“We are who are always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys to the kingdom, and a common vengeance writes the law (Miller Act II:389-390) ” This quote, by Arthur Miller in his famous play The Crucible, depicts McCarthyism as the Salem witch trials. Miller shows the resemblance of both events when people are being falsely accused with little to no evidence, and the trails were prejudicial and horrific. Using this approach has its strengths, weaknesses, and ideas that differs between the two. Depicting McCarthyism as the Salem witch trials strengthens the resemblance. The play accurately describes the mass hysteria of both events. When the character Mary Warren states chants “Abby, you mustn’t (Miller Act 3:1012)”, the other girls, including Abigail Williams, all repeat. Prior to this Abbygail pretends to be bewitched by Mary, and all the other girls follow Abigail in fear. When people are under pressure, like how Abigail threatens the girls, people are in …show more content…
Witches do not exist; communists do. As Danforth states, “But witchcraft is ipso facto, on its face and by its nature, an invisible crime, is it not (Miller Act III:533-535)?” Witchcraft does not exist, but at the time of McCarthyism, the threat of political corruption and the spread of communism is real. Therefore, it is a weakness in this portrayal. Secondly, no other powers or influences are mentioned in the play. Again, Danforth states that no person other than the accused and the accuser may input evidence on the crime. Thus, no other persons, evidence, or influences, may interfere with the trial. The same does not apply to McCarthyism, when published works, such as The Crucible, were there to make aware of the mass, unrationalized hysteria of the decade. In this there is fault due to there not being any other sources of information. Finally, people are hanged for witchcraft, but not for being a