Introductory
The Crucible has been recalled as a play which signifies a revolt against religious and judicial oppression. Arthur Miller had already acquired a good name among his general readers and critics when "Death of a Salesman" was published in 1948. The Crucible was his next target. He had started writing this play from the 1950s. This drama became a hit as soon as it hit the shelves in 1953. Some critics endorsed this play as a sharp allegory to McCarthyism while some critics remained busy in finding historical faults in the play. Others praised The Crucible for the dialogues.
The Story
Before discussing the cultural and historical background of the play, let us focus on its story so that we may interpret it properly in our later discussion. The Crucible is, basically, a story of theocratic exploitation which surged in the town of Salem. The play opens when "Betty is bewitched". The little girl's illness is closely associated with witchcraft and a shadow of the devil. Salem's puritan government and judiciary take stern actions against those who are convicted of witchcraft so that their society might be freed from the shadow of the devil. Then starts the blame game. Betty blames Abigail and Abigail shifts her blame to Tituba. Some people exploit the witch-hunt by accusing their neighbours so that they might get an extra piece of land. That is why, many respectable citizens including Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor's wife Elizabeth are arrested and the first mentioned name gets executed. The latter is spared but John Proctor is caught in the prison because he openly condemns the court. He is executed along with other eighteen people for "siding with the devil".
A Loose Allegory
McCarthyism is pierced throughout the play and its essence is taken from history. Arthur Miller states the reason behind writing this play,
The Crucible was an act of desperation…By 1950 when I began to think of writing about the hunt for Reds (Communists) in America, I was motivated in some great part by the paralysis of so many liberals who, despite their discomfort with the inquisitors’ violations of civil rights, were fearful, and with good reason, of being identified as covert Communists if they should protest too strongly…
When Miller was writing this play, it was a time of Cold War between Soviet Russia and the United States of America. Joseph McCarthy, a judge, aimed at dramatists and the ones who were supposed to have ties with Communist Russia. Miller was also imprisoned. Most of the critics find a strong parallel between Salem witch-hunt and Red hunt. But it must be noted as well that there were not as pure as Rebecca Nurse as officials like Rosenbergs and Alger Hiss were later found to be receiving money from the Soviet Union. Yet many of the Americans were victims of the harsh judicial scrutiny. Joseph N Welch's counter remarks weakened McCarthyism in 1954 which served as a full stop to it.
Conflicts in History Dialogued in The Crucible
The Crucible is taken from history. No character is in the play who did not take a similar role in Salem, 1692.
Miller's claim to be historically correct in his play is something which has dismayed many critics because this play is not as historically correct as Miller thinks. The actual Abigail Williams was only 11 to 12 years old and John Proctor only 60. But to add a love-affair between the two, he increased the age of Abigail and decreased the age of John.
Miller claimed that he had symbolized all the judges of equal authority in the two, Hathorne and Danforth. But the history stands in favour of Danforth as he worked to alleviate the injustice. It was William Stoughton (he was also a judge) who carried the witch-hunt to the other level. Such brutality ended when Governor Phip's own wife was listed as a possible witch. He released all the prisoners.
Conclusion
Despite The Crucible being historically inaccurate, it gives ample information about the historical Salem witch trials and allegorical Red-trials.
Sources and Suggested Readings
- https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/crucible/context/
- https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-the-background-of-the-crucible.html
- https://journeys.dartmouth.edu/thecrucible/historical-context-of-the-play/
- https://sites.google.com/site/english3gk/home/literature/the-colonial-period/the-crucible/the-crucible-notes/background-information-on-the-crucible
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crucible?oldformat=true
- https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Crucible/context/
Very simple and easy to understand.
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