The Crucible Allegory Analysis

Miller, within The Crucible, uses symbolism creates an effective allegory that shows the connection that it has to McCarthyism. The symbolism used within the play symbolized McCarthy’s accusations and allegations. The doll that is found on Elizabeth Proctor's shelf is considered a traditional symbol of voodoo and witchcraft, “Elizabeth: ‘I never kept no poppets, not since I were a girl.’ Cheever, embarrassed, glancing toward the mantel where sits Mary Warren's poppet: ‘I spy a poppet, Goody Proctor.’ Elizabeth: ‘Oh! Going for it: Why, this is Mary’s.’ Cheever, shyly: ‘Would you please to give it to me?’” (Miller 73). Elizabeth here explains how she had many poppets as a child, which was the norm until witchcraft started to become a main event and until people started to become victims of (false) accusations.

“Cheever: ‘Tis hard proof!’ To Hale: ‘I find here a poppet Goody Proctor keeps. I have found it, sir. And in the belly of the poppet a needle's stuck. I tell you true, Proctor, I never warranted to see such proof of Hell, and I bid you obstruct me not, for I’ - Enter Elizabeth with Mary Warren. Proctor, seeing Mary War-ren, draws her by the arm to Hale. Proctor: ‘Here now! Mary, how did this poppet come into my house?’ Mary Warren, frightened for herself, her voice very small: ‘What poppets that, sir?’” (Miller 75). Cheever insists that the poppet signifies “Hell”, per se, and Mary Warren is to deny the accusations as she knows what the poppet signifies as well. In The Crucible, the doll -and Rebecca Nurse as well- symbolizes the transformation of good to evil: dolls, in a normal society, represent childhood innocence and bring happiness. While in Salem, dolls represent evil. This goes even further into the Puritan government and church, both are being relied on to protect its citizens, yet they both doing the opposite to one