Arthur Miller's The Crucible: An Allegory of the Communist Witch Hunt

By Timothy Sexton, published Aug 03, 2006
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It is the rare case indeed when a work of literature’s genesis can be traced to a singular event. The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, is one of those cases. There is only one reason that this play exists. The Crucible is Arthur Miller’s literary response to what still remains of most intensely disgusting episodes in all of American history. 

After defeating the true demon ideology during World War II—fascism—American lawmakers for some reason embraced that very same ideology and began a furious and illegal assault upon those who embraced communism. It was during this dark time that several screenwriters, directors and actors making Hollywood movies were blacklisted simply because they refused to be a rat bastard like their friend Elia Kazan and reveal the names of friends who had attended meetings at which communist policies were discussed to a Congressional committee investigating the wholly legal and American concept of belonging to a political party, in this case the Communist Party. These actors, directors and screenwriters who refused to cave in to pressure and personal fear like Elia Kazan were denied the right to work despite having done nothing illegal.

Because it serves to comment on the historical context of the communist witch hunt while telling the story of the actual Salem witch hunt, therefore, The Crucible is technically an allegory. An allegory is basically a work of literature that tells one story on the surface while referring to another sub textually. Unlike the majority of other allegories, however, Arthur Miller peoples his play with fully fleshed-out three dimensional characters, and not just caricaturized puppets going through the motions.

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Tator Salad! :) hehe

Posted on 04/22/2008 at 10:04:42 AM

 
This helped me alot on my english 12 essay so thanks....

Posted on 04/22/2008 at 10:04:10 AM

 
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Posted on 11/28/2007 at 2:11:00 PM

 
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Posted on 11/28/2007 at 2:11:00 PM

 
Yes this helped alot!. stupid english teacher and there stupid HW i mean this sint 10th stuff more like 12th lol, she wanted us to see the connection between this book and communism/the cold war

Posted on 11/28/2007 at 2:11:00 PM

 
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Hey u have the same name as me!

Posted on 11/20/2007 at 3:11:00 AM

 
This was the best article i found to help with my English work so I thank you ^_^

Posted on 11/06/2007 at 10:11:00 PM

 
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Posted on 09/18/2007 at 6:09:00 AM

 
good info helpen on my report and i like the last line he,she is a philosophizer

Posted on 09/11/2007 at 5:09:00 AM

 
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Posted on 09/11/2007 at 3:09:00 AM

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