The Crucible Coursework Essay

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The Crucible Coursework Essay

The Crucible was written in 1952 by the playwright Arthur Miller. It is an allegory of the McCarthy ‘witch-hunts’ which occurred during the 1950’s. It was effectively the arrest and questioning of those suspected of communist views or that sympathised with communists. The USA was very suspicious of communists due to the Cold War between itself and the USSR. Joe McCarthy, leader of the governmental organisation, the Anti-Democracy Policy, headed the hunts. Arthur Miller was himself arrested by McCarthy.

        Miller was very irritated by this and decided that he wanted to protest by writing a satirical play. To have his play shown on Broadway he had to write an allegory based on his treatment and the insanity of the ‘witch-hunts’.

        The play is set in a fictional town named Salem in Massachusetts, USA in 1692, a period of American history when people were strict Christians.

        In Acts I, II and III we see a portrayal of local farmer John Proctor as he becomes involved in the injustices and realises the stupidity of the witch-hunts of Salem.  

        In Act I we are introduced to Reverend Samuel Parris, a corrupted clergyman. He is insecure, bitter and paranoid about witchcraft infecting his parish, giving him a bad reputation. We learn that he has seen several girls dancing naked and casting spells in the nearby woods, including his daughter, Betty, niece, Abigail Williams and his housemaid, Tituba. Parris’ perversion could be seen as the ‘perversion’ of the autocratic 1950’s America.

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        We also briefly establish John Proctor’s relationship with Abigail. An orphan, Abigail worked for him and his wife, Elizabeth as a housemaid until Elizabeth discovers that they were having an affair, a serious matter as this breaks one of the Ten Commandments. After being “put out”, Abigail still yearns for Proctor, although he pays little interest in her and goes back to living with his family.

        In this Act though, Proctor is flirting with Abigail again, but then refuses her his love.

        This is the start of Abigail’s tirade of naming the women of the town that she says are ...

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