english question

Question

In the 1950s, U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy aggressively interrogated individuals suspected to be Communists in what came to be known as “witch-hunts.” What might Miller’s purpose have been and what did he accomplish by writing The Crucible as a historical drama in 1953?

Answer 1

Miller's purpose in writing The Crucible may have been to acknowledge and draw public attention to the hypocrisy and insanity in the "witch-hunts" Sen. McCarthy was conducting. As many people today understand the Salem trials and subsequent executions to be linked to political and social power rather than the surface issue, this historical event becomes the perfect backdrop for the 1950's fear of Communism. By connecting these two events, Miller makes it clear that the McCarthy witch-hunts have a similar political goal to the Salem witch trials almost three centuries earlier. Additionally, he implies that the McCarthy witch-hunts have the possibility to spin out of control, much like the Salem witch-hunts did, resulting in a traumatic and undignified ending.