Twenty-five men and women died of false accusations against themselves in the 17th Century Salem Witch trials. Two hundred five leaders in the US government were accused of being communist by Senator Joseph McCarthy. Both historical events make a negative parallel to each other, thus exposing the detrimental effects of fear and selfishness on humans. Author Miller in the play, “The Crucible”, uses a jealous and destructive tone that draws striking similarities between the witch-hunt that took place in the 17th Century Salem and the communist hunt led by Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s. Miller uses the tool of allegory to reveal the dangerous consequences of falsely accusing individuals and exposing the motives of those in power who use fear and manipulation to maintain control. …show more content…
The play takes place in Salem, Massachusetts which was the town of the witch trials, but it parallels to the time of the Red Scare and the persecution of individuals falsely accused of being communists. Miller uses the events of the play to highlight the harm caused by false accusations and the destruction of innocent lives and reputations. The characters in the play, who are falsely accused of witchcraft, are forced to confess to crimes they did not commit or face death. Through the play, Miller illustrates how fear and suspicion can lead to a lack of civil liberties. Miller shows how the abuse of power can lead to the manipulation of the legal system and the persecution of individuals without evidence. The Crucible serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of blindly believing in fear and suspicion and the importance of protecting individual rights and due process in