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How Does Arthur Miller Present Deception In The Crucible

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Arthur Miller's The Crucible's portrayal of the accusations leading to the demise of any convicted being shows the reader that humans are inherently accusatory, and will do anything to ease blame from ourselves, no matter how outlandish the claim. This treatment of fellow man can only be equated to that of the Red Scare during the Cold War years. The Crucible was published between 1952 and 1953, in the heart of the Cold War, where Miller wrote The Crucible while under stress of Russian engagement. Miller's portrayal of deception is well conceived in the novel, and ties in directly with the deception and espionage-like treatment of people during the Red Scare. Miller also sheds light upon the effects of saving oneself by conviction of another. The Crucible not only portrays the effects of conviction of the victim, but much like the people …show more content…

Miller shows this tragedy using the girl's voices in Act 1. The girls are often seen shouting things like, "I saw Goody Hawkins with the Devil"(46) to throw the blame on a common scapegoat. The Crucible shows that even the nicest and most innocent people could turn on their friends to offer saving graces to themselves. Innocent Mary Warren sided with John Proctor when she admitted the girls were pulling a hoax, yet when the girls turn on her and call her a witch, she quickly changes her mindset saying that Mr. Danforth, "I'l murder you, he says, if my wife hangs!"(110) Mary has changed her allegiances only to protect herself, even if it goes against her best interests. She quickly and decisively blames John Proctor for her accusation, and is suddenly an innocent girl. HUAC operated similarly to the courts of Salem, where the ability to keep prying eyes off is to say that another person, no matter how well you know them, is involved with communistic

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