"The Crucible" & Salem Witch Trials

Paper Summary:

This paper shows how Miller bases the events of his play on the Salem Witch Trials in the 1650's. The play is also inspired by the pseudo witch hunts that occurred in Hollywood in the 1950's in the search of Communists, fanned on by McCarthy's laws. It examines whether Miller managed to depict true events of the Salem Witch Trials in his play or whether these were blown out of proportion.

From the Paper:

"The accuracy of Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible, with regards to the actual events upon which he based his play have been the subject of much speculation since he wrote the play in 1953. Miller wrote the play because of the witch-hunt of sorts occurring in Hollywood as the scare of Communism caused the anti-Communism trials headed up by Senator Joseph McCarthy earlier that year (Margo Burns). Miller did not base his play on the actual events that happened in 1692, but rather was inspired by the events. He took actual events in history and then wrote a play. Miller was justified in taking artistic liberties with the historical accuracy, however there is several major (and plenty of minor) discrepancies regarding what actually happened, and what Miller came up with. Pointing out those discrepancies is my purpose not to criticize Miller's imagination."

More papers on "The Crucible" & Salem Witch Trials:

• Term Paper # 121562 : "The Salem Witch Trials"
• Research Paper # 128186 : "McCarthyism and "The Crucible"
• Comparison Essay # 73697 : "The Crucible" & McCarthyism"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: