Consider the Relationship Between the Crucible and the Actual Historical Events On Which It Is Based.
Consider the relationship between The Crucible and the actual historical events on which it is based.
The Crucible was written in 1952 and the situation in America was prosperous after the Second World War. But, there were problems for America and fear of the enemy, the fear of communism. The American people feared their old allies, the Russians, and feared their communist regime. The Americans were (and still are) democrats and they were devoted to their democratic government and their democratic lives so communism was a real threat to the livelihood of the American people. In what was to become known as the "Cold War", two superpowers were formed. The Americans against the Soviets, west verses east. A frantic hysteria developed in the US known as the "Red Scare" and the people began to believe that communists were in the country plotting to bring down the government. This scare was partly a product of McCarthyism, an anti-communist crusade led by Senator Joseph Raymond McCarthy, an American politician. He allegedly possessed a list of 205 names of members of the government, servicemen and other officials who he claimed were communists. These accusations were nearly always based purely on malicious rumour or small enquiries into communist activity. People were tried and fined, some even jailed for reasons beyond their control. And then there was what you had to do after you confessed to your alleged crimes. You named and incriminated other people - guilty or not. If you did not confess you would be likely to lose your job, lose your friends and you would be publicly embarrassed. If you confessed you were effectively destroyed.
The Crucible was written in 1952 and the situation in America was prosperous after the Second World War. But, there were problems for America and fear of the enemy, the fear of communism. The American people feared their old allies, the Russians, and feared their communist regime. The Americans were (and still are) democrats and they were devoted to their democratic government and their democratic lives so communism was a real threat to the livelihood of the American people. In what was to become known as the "Cold War", two superpowers were formed. The Americans against the Soviets, west verses east. A frantic hysteria developed in the US known as the "Red Scare" and the people began to believe that communists were in the country plotting to bring down the government. This scare was partly a product of McCarthyism, an anti-communist crusade led by Senator Joseph Raymond McCarthy, an American politician. He allegedly possessed a list of 205 names of members of the government, servicemen and other officials who he claimed were communists. These accusations were nearly always based purely on malicious rumour or small enquiries into communist activity. People were tried and fined, some even jailed for reasons beyond their control. And then there was what you had to do after you confessed to your alleged crimes. You named and incriminated other people - guilty or not. If you did not confess you would be likely to lose your job, lose your friends and you would be publicly embarrassed. If you confessed you were effectively destroyed.
