Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" and its relation to McCarthyism of the American 1950s

Pre-University Paper from the year 2008 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,7, , language: English, abstract: Arthur Miller, one of the most important sociocritical dramatists of the 20th century, treats in his famous play The Crucible the witch hunts of Salem in 1692. Considering this drama, the biography of Miller and the political situation in the date of origin of The Crucible, I would like to clarify the coherences between the drama and the highhanded persecution of inculpable humans in the American 1950s, at the time of McCarthyism.

The first part of my work deals with Arthur Miller, his life and his play The Crucible. In this part I would like to elucidate Miller¿s personal connection to the anti-communist campaign. Furthermore, I would like to show the destructiveness of rumours with regard to the executions happened in the late 17th century and accurate reflected in The Crucible. Moreover, I will enlarge upon the effects of the religion, in this case Puritanism, on the behaviour of the bourgeois and the justice.

The second part of my work deals with Joseph McCarthy, his life, the commencements of McCarthyism, the course of the trials and decline of McCarthyism. In this part I would like to show the arbitrariness of Joseph McCarthy with which he accused innocent people. Furthermore, I will enlarge on the cruelly effects of such persecutions, which destroy the person¿s futures and, as to The Crucible, the whole life.

Part three of my work will consist of conclusions about the impact of McCarthyism and Arthur Miller¿s drama The Crucible.