The Crucible by Arthur Miller Essay -- Arthur Miller Crucible Essays

The Crucible by Arthur Miller John Proctor says, I'll tell you what's walking Salem, vengeance is walking Salem. Discuss the real evil in Salem, who contributed to it and their motives who do you blame the most? John Proctor says, "I'll tell you what's walking Salem, vengeance is walking Salem." Discuss the real evil in Salem, who contributed to it and their motives who do you blame the most? Before I begin to tell you my opinion on who was to blame, and my reasoning for saying so, I will give you a brief insight into the real point of Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible. Arthur Miller first produced his play in 1953, in the middle of the McCarthy political 'witch-hunt', although the story had applied for playwright for many years prior to this. This meant that the play was seen as a political parable - it represented the goings on in actual political life. Since 1938, an organisation had existed in America called the House Un-American Activities Committee with the right to investigate any movement, or anyone who seemed to put at risk America's safety. The chairman of this was Senator Joseph McCarthy. Under his rule, the committee became paranoid in its search for people who sympathised with communists. Almost any criticism of the government or its instructions was seen, in the eyes of McCarthy, as an admission of devotion or loyalty to communism beliefs. Witnesses were made to appear in court and answer charges that they were sympathisers of communist followers, and made to name others that they saw at these meetings which took place as long as twenty years ago. Liberal writers, film directors and actors all appeared before the committee and, as a result, many of them found it hard to fin... ... tries to convince all the others that Mary just acting out of fear but he fails, and John Proctor is accused of witchcraft. In the last scene in the whole play, when Proctor is to be hanged, Danforth makes him sign a written copy of his confession so that he can hang it on the church door. Proctor signs it, but then refuses to have his name hung on the church that he built, with so many people feeling disgust with him. Also, seeing the others that are to hang influences his confession as he feels guilt for letting the others die by not submitting to lies. He pleads with Danforth to leave things as they were, saying his confession by mouth was enough, but Danforth will not accept anything unless it be written and signed. Danforth is heartless in doing this, as he knows the confession is not necessary, for he has not taken a confession from anyone else.