The Crucible An allegory about McCarthyism by Arthur Miller

An allegory is a symbolic story that serves as a disguised representation for meanings other than those indicated on the surface. The Crucible is about the Salem Witch Trials, but it serves as an allegory for McCarthyism in the U.S. during the Cold War. The Salem Witch Trials is an historic event that happened in the 1600’s. 19 innocent people were killed when Salem was in the grips of hysteria after a group of girls, in order to explain away their own bad behavior, tells town officials that they were in the grips of someone who had bewitched them – Tituba, a slave from the West Indies. Tituba was the accused. The girls saw the power they had by accusing people they disliked of witchcraft. The McCarthy era was a time when Sen. Joseph McCarthy began to accuse people of being Communist. Special hearings were convened and anyone McCarthy and his cronies thought had Communist leanings were brought in front of the committee. If this happened to you, you were immediately “black balled” by your peers and possibly fired from your job. You probably could not find work. If you were associated with someone that McCarthy called, you would be called, too.

In both the Salem Witch Trials and the McCarthy hearings, if you admitted to your “sin” (either of being a witch or a Communist) you were absolved. In Salem, you were allowed to live, but your life was destroyed because no one would associate with you. In Washington, you were released but blackballed by your community and work place because no one wanted to run the risk of being called by McCarthy because of being associated with you.

Red Scare The term " Red Scare " has been retroactively applied to two distinct periods of strong anti-communist sentiment. The first from and the second from the late 1940s to 1960s.

Why did he write this play? During the 1950’s Arthur Miller was one of America’s greatest playwrights. He was called to appear in front of the committee for suspicion that he was associated with Communists. The Committee of Un-American Behavior wanted him to name names. He refused. He decided to respond to the committee by writing The Crucible. Many people in Hollywood and the media were among the accused, and if a person spoke out against McCarthy, he would accuse that person as well, even if there was absolutely no evidence of Communism. Thus, most people did not speak out against McCarthy. While Miller was blackballed by the Hollywood community, he decided someone needed to take a stand against McCarthy’s rantings. Only a few had his bravery to speak out against McCarthy.

Alien Registration Act The Alien Registration Act passed by Congress on June 29, It made it illegal for anyone in the United States to advocate, abet, or teach the desirability of overthrowing the government. The law also required all alien residents in the United States over 14 years of age to file a comprehensive statement of their personal and occupational status and a record of their political beliefs. Within four months a total of 4,741,971 aliens had been registered. The main objective of the Alien Registration Act was to undermine the American Communist Party and other left- wing political groups in the United States. It was decided that the House of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), was to investigate people suspected of unpatriotic behaviour, would be the best vehicle to discover if people were trying to overthrow the government.

The Hollywood Ten & Blacklisting The Hollywood blacklist —more properly the entertainment industry blacklist, into which it expanded—was the mid-twentieth-century list of screenwriters, actors, directors, musicians, and other U.S. entertainment professionals who were denied employment in the field because of their political beliefs or associations, real or suspected. Artists were barred from work on the basis of their alleged membership in or sympathy toward the American Communist Party, involvement in liberal or simply humanitarian political causes that enforcers of the blacklist associated with communism, and/or refusal to assist federal investigations into Communist Party activities; some were blacklisted merely because their names came up at the wrong place and the wrong time.

Among those well-known artists accused of communist sympathies or called before the committee were Dashiell Hammett, Waldo Salt, Lillian Hellman, Lena Horne, Paul Robeson, Elia Kazan, Arthur Miller, Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Charlie Chaplin and Group Theatre members Clifford Odets, and Stella Adler. In all, three hundred and twenty artists were blacklisted, and for many of them this meant the end of exceptional and promising careers.

An important term that developed from this time period: Political Witch Hunt A political witch hunt is a term that came about during the McCarthy era. It means there is an accusation that has no basis in fact that is surrounded by hearsay, assumptions, and fear. It also has connotations of someone who is out to “get” someone else because they don’t like them for some reason. WESTERN DEFENSE COMMAND AND FOURTH ARMY WARTIME CIVIL CONTROL ADMINISTRATION Presidio of San Francisco, California May 3, 1942 INSTRUCTIONS TO ALL PERSONS OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY Japanese Internmen t Camps

HYSTERIA! Hysteria is a diagnostic label applied to a state of mind, one of unmanageable fear or emotional excesses. The fear is often centered on a body part, most often on an imagined problem with that body part (disease is a common complaint). People who are "hysterical" often lose self-control due to the overwhelming fear.

Some interesting facts and details... A Crucible is a cup that can be heated to high temperatures to melt metal into liquid. It is also used in reference to the Holy Grail. Arthur Miller was married to Marilyn Monroe for a short time! Another great movie about the McCarthy era and how he was finally brought down is Good Night and Good Luck, about how famous journalist Edward R. Murrow was partially responsible for the demise of this horrid senator from Wisconsin. McCarthy started all of this nonsense as a campaign ploy he cooked up over dinner with friends because he needed a focus for his campaign.

In 1953, legendary writer Arthur Miller depicted a story based on actual facts; facts which remain horrifying even to this day, despite being based on events which took place over 300 years ago.The story is a terrifying depiction of how the accusations of a group of children stirred up such fear in their small community that it led to persecution and hangings. However, what makes the story so touching even until this day is that it applies to all “witch hunts.” Yes, witchhunts take place every day.

Welcometo the story of:

It is the spring of The small town of Salem, MA had been established a mere forty years earlier and had yet to make it its mark on the rest of the world. However, while not all were immediately aware, 1692 would be a year of ‘revolution’ in America. No longer was everyone willing to adhere to the strict lifestyle that had been set down by their forefathers. While the town of Salem might have appeared to be a serene and enjoyable place to live, it was about to experience an event that would change lives forever. Little did citizens know, though, that their story would still have a tremendous effect on us today. Meet the people

John Proctor

Abigail

Elizabeth Proctor

What did they see?

Tituba

What really makes The Crucible so special even to this day is that the story applies to the events that we witness right before our own eyes. Yes, we have allowed ‘witch hunts’ to continually take place, proving that we have yet to correct the mistakes that were made over 300 years ago.

You will be experiencing what it was like to be accused of witchcraft in Salem during the Salem Witch Trials. Your job is to experience the emotions and feelings of being falsely accused.

Japanese Internment Camps I am Japanese American I now live behind these barbed wires Everyday I wake up to see the same people Guards blocking the exits Wondering if I will live through another day Everyday I get more lonely I always pray for me and mama and papa At mealtime we get to eat the same exact stuff every time I never drink the powdered milk that all the kids got at mealtimes I don't really like it that much So, I just wait, and wait. Write a journal about one time you were falsely accused. Consider what led up to the accusation and what the results of the accusation were. Fill one page.