Allegory in ‘The Crucible’

Definition of Allegory A story that can e seen to have two different meanings and parallel meanings, rather like a fable or parable

‘The Crucible’ can e read as an allegory of the anti-Communist investigations in the United States in the 1950s. 1950s America went through period of intense fear of the spread of the anti-capitalist economic system called communism. The government organised an investigation to identify communists and drive them out of positions of influence. This is often referred to as the 'communist witch hunt'.

Arthur Miller and anti-Communist Investigations Miller's writer and theatre friends, people who might be thought to influence public opinion, were brought before House Committee on Un-American Activities. When Miller’s friend was investigated by the Committee, tension between the power of the state and freedom of the individual became the major theme of his next play, The Crucible. Miller himself appeared before the committee in 1956.

The Crucible portrays witch hunting as something deep within the origins of the American character. Miller shows it arising out of a wide variety of motives, including unfounded fear, jealousy and revenge, an ugly and unflattering image of America which was far from the way that Americans liked to see themselves.