evidence these harmless or well-respected Salem villagers who have not confessed to witchcraft, are not witches. Though, unfortunately, this did not occur, instead the public, through fear, was easily manipulated into supporting the corruption in the government and further inciting it. The government utilized fear to weaken the citizens and muddle their judgement, so the citizens would have to rely on the government for judgement. The corruption of the government during the Red Scare stemmed from the leader of it, McCarthy (History.com staff; Hosey). This senator was discovered to have told dishonest speeches, fabricated evidence, and abused suspects, violating their rights, during interrogations (Barnes; Hosey). The corruption of the Salem …show more content…
The corruption of John Proctor is created through his characterization as a tragic hero. Fusco defines corruption as deceit and fraud (Fusco xiii). Proctor not only deceives others of his crime by not telling them of it, he deceives himself by being in denial as he demonstrates when he tells Abigail that they never “touched” (Miller 1). By Proctor being deceitful, Miller displays how corruption has infected him, despite his honest nature. This inner corruption is prompted by fear blinding him from proper judgement. Fear blinds him because of his need to retain the respect of the Salem villagers. This need leads to the unsuccessful protection of his reputation but also his downfall. Proctor has to be a tragic hero to properly portray how corruption is so deeply embedded in a society that even such a powerful, honest, respected member of this society, himself, was affected. His fall from this high status to one of a witch reveals that he is affected. If Proctor remained only a hero, prevented his flaw from destroying his reputation, then the corruption born from the fear created would not be as significant. The purpose of The Crucible would be destroyed. The grim truth Miller attempts to warn of, that fear blinds judgement and promotes corruption, would be undermined and weakened. It would remain only a slight conflict, not an issue of momentous weight, attention, and concern that it should