Crucible repeated, AGAIN!
Love, hate, religion, and reputation are all common themes in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. These themes play a large role in today’s society. Written in 1952 about Salem, Massachusetts in the year 1692, Miller uses the Salem witch trials as a clear indication that history repeats itself. America in the 1950s showed a clear relation to what many people see as stories in a book and their life today.
During The Cold War, the American people used all of their resources to fight in a war against Russia. Despite sharing an alliance in World War II, the two countries could not accept the other’s form of government. People became obsessed with the thought that there might be Russian spies in the American government. Neighbors started accusing neighbors of being communists because of their personal distaste of the other. Soon people started getting blacklisted and losing their jobs due to accusations made against them or their unwillingness to name other communists.
Senator Joseph McCarthy was one of the most influential people in this time, so much that people refer to this time period as “McCarthyism”. McCarthy was thought to be a patriot and an all American prophet that was helping keep our streets clear of the communists and their sympathisers that live among us. That was the case until people started to notice that McCarthy was becoming consumed by the power he held. Senator McCarthy would start to throw people in jail based on just a pointed finger. His power would soon be taken away from him, but the remnants of his actions would be remembered.
Arthur Miller is among many famous artists to be called upon and pressured for names of people who were part of the communist party or sympathisers. Convicted of contempt of court, Miller continued to refuse to give names of innocent people. In a time when few people were willing to publicly defy McCarthy in fear of repercussions, Miller decided to write The Crucible. The play focuses on the Salem Witch trials in the late 17th century America. Miller uses the stories of the people of the time to show the people of modern day America how similar the issues they are having are.
The Crucible tells a story of mob mentality, religion, and loyalty. These are many things seen in today’s society, that can also be pointed out in The Crucible. The political climate of the time was certainly the reason for the writing of the play, “Miller wrote the play in 1952 as the House Un-American Activities Committee was growing in power, spreading fear through America’s intellectual elite in its search for communists and communist sympathizers,” (Blaney 15). Miller talks about how the people of Salem, Massachusetts are subjected to terror set upon by their own minds. In the play, Arthur Miller describes the characters in depth. His illustration of these characters show modern attributes that relate to people from all time periods. In addition to Miller’s inadequate descriptions of the characters, his depiction of the community they lived in was undoubtedly a mirror looking right at 1950s America.
One of the main themes in this play is love. Unlike most plays, Arthur Miller does not focus on finding, rather gaining it back. John Proctor, one of the main characters in the play, a self righteous man who believes his mistakes should be quickly forgiven and forgotten. “As though I come into a court when I come into this house,” (Miller 45). Throughout the play, John becomes more and more regretful of his wrongdoing, committing adultery. This relates to society today in a way that most people hate to admit. Rather than seeking forgivness, people are more focused on finding a direct cause for their actions that will excuse them from punishment or protect their reputation.
Another main theme in the play is reputation. Just as many people in today’s world try to avoid actions or words that might spoil their image, it was a very big issue in Puritan 17th century America. In The Crucible, there are many instances where the people of Salem are trying to save their or another’s reputation. A memorable moment in the play that strongly relates to this is when Judge Hawthorne refuses to let innocent people out of the jail because it would soil his name. Judge Hawthorne would have rather let more innocent people die to save his reputation:
“Now hear me, and beguile yourselves no more. I will not receive a
single plea for pardon or postponement. Them that will not confess will hang.
Twelve are already executed; the names of these seven are given out, and the
village expects to see them die this morning. Postponement now speaks a floun-
dering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them
that died till now. While 1 speak God’s law, I will not crack its voice with
whimpering. If retaliation is your fear, know this – I should hang ten thousand
that dared to rise against the law, and an ocean of salt tears could not melt the
resolution of the statutes. Now draw yourselves up like men and help me, as you
are bound by Heaven to do. Have you spoken with them all, Mr. Hale?” (Miller 129).
Today’s culture has yet to change. People would rather let friends, family, and coworkers be dragged through mud than to stand up and admit that they themselves made a mistake.
Similar to when the American people started to accuse neighbors of being communists, the people of Salem were just as quick to subject their rivals to the cruel punishment and questioning from the community. Just like in Puritan New England, the accusations during the McCarthyism era were not made against actual threats to the society, but toward people whose conviction would benefit the accuser.
When was it decided that the accuser is never the true one in the wrong? In life, it is noticed that people get
The Crucible sends a strong message throughout the play. The relationship between history, 1950s America, and 2010s America shows one of the most important lessons that can be taught to youth. Many schools read The Crucible as a requirement for the curriculum, but students rarely see the connection the play has to their lives. Unlike the fictional stories read in classrooms across America, The Crucible tells the story of 1690s America that is meant to mirror the issues 1950s America was having at the time. The clear repetition in the American history shown by Arthur Miller is important to present to the younger generations in order to try and avoid the disbandment of our society.
As the play comes to an end, readers are unable to deny that the message has relevance to society today.