The Crucible: Literary Element Essay

An allegory is a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden

meaning. A great example of an allegory is The Crucible. The Crucible is a 1952 play by

the American playwright Arthur Miller. It is about the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. The

Salem witch trials were a series of hearings before county court trials to prosecute people

accused of witchcraft. Another situation that was similar to the Salem Witch trials is

McCarthyism. McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty,

subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. Both the Salem Witch Trials

and McCarthyism made a great impact on American history.

Both the people accused in The Crucible and the people accused during the

McCarthy hearings were found guilty with little evidence. People would think that

random accusations with little proof would easily be dismissed. Others believed that the

primary source for McCarthyism and the accusers in Salem's support comes from fear.

America was going through a fearful time because of the fear of the spread of

communism. These rumors of communist in the state department started a hunt that many

avoided because they were scared. In the Salem Witch Trials, the children where acting

unusually and everyone was scared. When a reason for this problem was suggested,

everyone was willing to support it because of fear.

Another reason of support the fact that everyone was just following what everyone

else was doing. It is human nature for one to follow the people of Salem, who had been

controlled by religion to follow their leaders and the rest of their neighbors in the witch

hunt. Those who disagreed where considered witches. Just like the people in the story

many in America followed McCarthyism. Because of the Red Scare, everyone feared the

thought of communism in the government. Just like the people of the Salem Witch Trials

were