Samantha Collett 11NK
Which of Act 3 & Act 4 is more Dramatic
And Why?
The Crucible was written in 1950’s America by Arthur Miller. Although the book has been written about witchcraft it has been thought that it was written about the McCarthyism of 1950’s America. Miller could not write directly about McCarthyism (fanatical fear of communism), as the book would not have been published. In the text people were accused interrogated arrested and tried as were communists and suspected communists in 1950’s America. In the crucible miller used the text to protest against the McCarthyism in America. The fanaticism in Salem was similar to the fanaticism in America at the time the text was written. The trumped-up witch hysteria in Salem, Massachusetts, deteriorated the rational, and emotional stability of its citizens. This exploited the populations’ weakest qualities, and insecurities. The obvious breakdown in Salem's social order led to the tragedy which saw twenty innocent people hung on the accusation of witchcraft. Arthur Miller, author of The Crucible, used hysteria to introduce personality flaws in vulnerable characters. A rigid social system, fear, and confusion were evident conditions that became prevalent before and during the witchtrials. These conditions only contributed to the tragedy in Salem. The isolation of the Puritan society created a rigid social system that did not allow for any variation in lifestyle.
