Similarities Between The Crucible And Mccarthyism

The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, was written in response to the abuses of power under McCarthyism, a period in the 1950s when the United States government conducted a witch hunt for supposed communists. The play draws parallels between the Salem witch trials of 1692 in Massachusetts and the Red Scare and its investigations in the 1950s. McCarthyism led to the false accusations of thousands of people, and those accused lost their jobs. Similarly, the Salem witch trials had false accusations that led to the deaths and imprisonment of hundreds. We can see another parallel in more modern situations where people use their power to prosecute others. Similar abuse of power is seen through the eyes of sexual assault victims, who have suffered similarly to the victims of McCarthyism and the Salem witch trials, having their lives ruined and their reputations tarnished.

In both cases, individuals were suspected of wrongdoing and forced to confess or name others, often under intimidation or the threat of punishment. Those who refused to admit or name others were imprisoned, excommunicated from society, and in some circumstances executed. Abuse of power is evident in both McCarthyism and the witch trials, as both had no regard for due process or the rights of the accused. Another parallel between these two historical events is how certain people were targeted based on their religion or cultural background. In the case of McCarthyism, anyone suspected of having communist sympathies was investigated and often blacklisted from employment or social activities. Similarly, during the witch trials, those accused of witchcraft were often targeted due to their religious beliefs, practices, or sexual orientation. This parallel shows how power targets and punishes individuals based on their background rather than any actual