The Salem Scare Essay -- Literary Analysis, Arthur Miller

On the day of the hangings at Gallows Hill, many watched as friends and family were executed for crimes they had not committed. Arthur Miller wrote about that which preceded this morbid event in The Crucible. The story, which catalogs the witchcraft trials of Salem, was not an unprovoked piece of literature. At the time Miller wrote the play, America was dreadfully close to war with Russia, and many believed that communists were infiltrating the government. Joseph McCarthy was a man who oftentimes would accuse people of being â€Å"Reds.† Arthur Miller was one of the victims of McCarthy's verbal attacks. Although Arthur was in no way a communist, denying the accusation made others think he was guilty. This Catch-22 scenario reminded Arthur of the Salem Witchcraft trials of the late 1600's. Although the two events were hundreds of years apart, the â€Å"Red Scare† and the Salem Witchcraft Trials were very much alike. Frenzy was the main component of each happening, and this frenzy resulted in the unjust prosecution of many individuals. The definition, theme, and how the theme relates to my daily life are crucial to understanding The Crucible. The definition of â€Å"crucible† is â€Å"a test†. Throughout the play, many of Salem's inhabitants are tested in various ways. Of all the characters within The Crucible, there are three who had to make major decisions that would not only affect themselves but also affect the accused. John Proctor, a man who had quite a good reputation in Salem, underwent a test of moral integrity. Throughout the story, he is plagued with the guilt of having had an affair with Abigail, and in order to save his wife, must confess this sin to the court. Before his wife, Elizabeth, is taken to jail, she tells John this... ... By reading about how people within the play responded to their tests, one can reflect upon how they respond to their own tests in day to day life. The theme of how fear and suspicion feed upon themselves and result in the destruction of public order and good sense can show one the serious repercussions that come with not considering all scenarios and letting fear take control. How the theme applies to my daily life provides one with a real world example of how fear can break down reason and create unnecessary turmoil. Fear is a recurring emotion within Salem, and one that many in the village did not keep under control. This fear became a monster that consumed the town and unjustly killed many. In modern society, controlling our fear can save innocent lives and reputations and prevent occurrences such as the Salem Witchcraft Trials from ever happening again.