Use Of Allegory Of The Red Scare In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

In The Crucible, Arthur Miller creates an indisputable connection between the Salem Witch Trials and the Red Scare, the fear and persecution of suspected communists in the USA between the 40s and 50s. The hysteria and paranoia that took America by storm during the Red Scare are effectively criticized through the use of characters and plot. Through the depiction of the Salem Witch Trials, Miller shows how patterns of investigation, accusation, and punishment are correspondent between the trials and the Red Scare. The common themes of fear, hysteria, and dangerous mob mentality are explored through the use of irony, symbolism, and characterization. Arthur Miller successfully creates an allegory of the Red Scare in The Crucible while showing

For example, the Devil symbolizes communism in the story. Accusations of witchcraft in The Crucible ,typically made to accuse others of association with the devil, automatically labels them dangerous. The courtroom also symbolizes the poor legal system during the Red Scare where the accused were often deemed guilty regardless of the present evidence. One quote where the devil received mention was Abigail's defense against being accused of witchcraft where she assures “I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus! I danced for the Devil; I saw him, I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand. I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!” (1.595). Abigail Williams symbolizes the threat of Communism during the Red Scare through the devil. Witchcraft accusations not only deal with religion but also call out those who are a danger to society. This goes hand-in-hand with the accusations made during the Red Scare where innocent people got accused of being a threat to society as communists, which is spoken very well by John Proctor. “I cannot speak but I am doubted, every moment judged for lies, as though I come into a court when I come into this house!” (2.605). This statement shows that those who spoke out against the normal beliefs and attitudes that members of society shared faced unnecessary repercussions.

A notable example is John Proctor, who signifies the importance of maintaining self-respect and integrity in a time of societal fear and paranoia, and would rather die than betray his motives which ultimately represents those who refused to go against their beliefs during the Red Scare. Abigail Williams, who makes several false claims of witchcraft to gain control and power in the court, exemplifies those who used the Red Scare for personal gain. As an example of false claims of witchcraft, Abigail Williams scares the other girls in the courtroom to uphold her false accusations and have some control by saying “Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you.” (1.575). This quote shows her manipulative and power-hungry character. This was also common during the Red Scare, where individuals would falsely be accused of being a communist just for the accuser to maintain their social control and power. During the Red Scare, people who avoided persecution were those who made false confessions to being communist despite their innocence. Proctor makes it clear that this is intent through proclaiming “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I