Examples Of Allegory In The Crucible

Fresh off the tail of the hellish nightmare that was WWII, Americans were expecting unprecedented national unity and safety, but they would soon come to find the exact opposite. Following the American defeat of fascism, they quickly set their sights on a new evil ideology, communism. The United States and the Soviet Union quickly devolved into a cold war, which, if either side was pushed too far, could end with the annihilation of the human race as a whole. Stateside, communist paranoia was rampant and many were quick to point fingers at people they suspected of being communist spies. The most infamous finger-pointer of the time was Wisconsin Republic Senator Joseph McCarthy. McCarthy rose to infamy because of his list that supposedly held

The book follows the story of the Salem Witch trials and how many innocent people were killed because of the reckless actions of a few. In this book, Miller embellishes a few historical facts in order to push his deeper meaning, which is especially shown in his character John Proctor. In real life, John Proctor was a strong, upstanding, well-liked, and respected member of the Salem Town community. Along with his wife and children, he owned a large tract of land and a tavern as well. At the time of the trials, he was sixty years old but still very active in his community. Miller changes these aspects of Proctor in the book to where he’s in his thirties, has an affair with a late-teen member of society, and is much more of a recluse. One significant thing that he keeps the same is that he was eventually hung because of his defense of his wife, who was unjustly sentenced to hang on crimes of witchcraft. By changing Proctor’s age and having him participate in an affair with someone in his community, Miller accomplishes a few

“As a successful farm and businessman Proctor was envied by his village neighbors and respected by the people of Salem Town. Although he was never directly involved in Salem Village politics, his tavern was located in the town and he therefore remained a target of suspicion in the divided community” (Saari and Shaw, Proctor, John). What this quote explains is that Proctor was an involved and present member of society. Although he wasn’t directly involved with the town’s politics, which you cannot fault him for, considering the craziness of the society, he was still an active member of town proceedings. He had neighbors and had a job just like everyone else in Salem. This is similarly explained in the book when it says, “He was the kind of man - powerful of body, even-tempered, and not easily led - who cannot refuse support to partisans with-out drawing their deepest resentment… But as we shall see, the steady manner he displays does not spring from an untroubled soul. He is a sinner, a sinner not only against the moral fashion of the time, but against his own vision of decent conduct” (Miller, 19). In the play, there is juxtaposition regarding Proctor everywhere. In regards to how the people treat him, he is respected and envied, yet lives distant from the town as though he were a leper. Then when