This resulted in a widespread fear of Communist influences, and a political hunt similar to the Salem witch trials began, as civilians attempted to escape their own charges by accusing other innocent individuals of treason. This was a political movement in which Senator Joseph McCarthy attempted to control the spread of Communism by placing any Communist sympathisers on a blacklist. However, the play was written during another type of witch hunt: McCarthyism in 1950s America. Although partially fictionalised, it depicts the very real consequences of false accusations based on blind religious faith, as Miller displays the dangers of such baseless rumours. They willingly gave up their own freedom for two reasons: The Crucible, Arthur Miller’s 1953 realist play, is based on the historical events of the 1692 Salem witch hunts.The ancestors of Salem’s inhabitants left Europe for religious freedom they didn’t allow any of it among their own people.Persecutions for witchcraft a bit of a fad at the time in Europe.They took this literally, just like the rest of the Bible.“Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” – Exodus 22:18, the King James Bible.In this type of government, violating the Ten Commandments, (for example) can get you thrown into jail.Not unknown even today: Iran, Saudi Arabia.In most of Massachusetts, religious beliefs held the power of law.
Definition: a form of government where religious authority and civil authority are the same.This colony barely registered on the radar of Europe governments there glad to be rid of “fanatics”.“Today we would hardly call it a village.”Total population no more than a few hundred people.
Setting of the play: Salem, Massachusetts, 1692 A Puritan settlement about 40 years old.The Crucible Act 1: The Overture a.k.a., What This is All About
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