The Crucible as AllegoryEncountering Conflict

What is an Allegory?•Allegory: a story that is used to represent specific

ideas or principles. Similar to an extended metaphor.

•The Crucible is written as an allegory to comment on what was happening in 1950s America under McCarthyism – it is not a direct representation, but shows many similarities.

•This means that The Crucible is allegorical.•Another term is Analogy• It is not an Allergy.

The Crucible and McCarthyism• In writing The Crucible, Arthur Miller wanted to

point out to the world the parallel between the unjust Salem Witch Trials of 1692 and fear of Communism that was at it’s height during the 1950s.

•He wanted to make a powerful statement about the dangers of hysteria and the dehumanization that can result.

McCarthyism•McCarthyism: is the term used to describe the

approach that was taken in the 1950s to protect America from the threat of Communist infiltration.

• Communism: A system of government where the state owns and controls the economy through a central government. There is no private ownership and goods and property are shared.

•Anti-Communist feelings arose dramatically at the end of the 1940s and into the 1950s, after World War II, due to the growth of Communism from the USSR to Eastern Europe.

•The Atomic Bomb and development of nuclear weaponry also added to people’s fear of Communists.

The Rise of Anti-Communism• The Communist influence was increasing in the US and

both citizens and government wanted it addressed.• In 1947 President Truman put the Truman Loyalty Oath

into action, under public pressure, where government employees had to sign their loyalty to the government.

• Set up loyalty review boards to investigate government employees. (3.2 Million employees investigated)

• Therefore, anyone who wanted to bring about change, such as advocates of Civil Rights, Women’s Rights etc, could be classified as communist!

• In addition propaganda and media hysteria fueled this fear of Communists (1947- Year of Division, He may be a Communist, Fallout Shelter, Kids and Nukes)

HUAC - 1947•House of Unamerican

Activities Commission•Set up to investigate

communist organisations in America.

•Specifically investigated Hollywood filmmakers suspected of promoting Communist ideas.

•Blacklisted approximately 300 writers, actors and producers.

Joseph McCarthy• A U.S. Senator 1947 – 1957

• Relatively obscure until 1950 when he made his famous “Wheeling Speech” (in Wheeling, West Virginia) to the Republican Women’s club stating:

• “I have here in my hand a list of 205 — a list of names that were made known to the Secretary of State as being members of the Communist Party and who nevertheless are still working and shaping policy in the State Department.“

McCarthyism is born•Though this speech was investigated and found to be

unsubstantiated, the public reaction was huge (as seen in the town of Salem with the talk of witchcraft)

•McCarthy became the public face of Anti-Communism, soon called “McCarthyism” (McCarthy is similar to Judge Danforth).

•He claimed there were many Communists, Soviet spies and sympathizers inside federal government departments

•He headed a committee that conducted hearings for accused Communists

•However, he had little evidence to back up his claims (as with the witches)

Who did he accuse?•No one was safe from accusation but certain

people were targets:•Over 300 actors, authors and directors known as

the Hollywood blacklist (including Arthur Miller) – why?

•Certain politicians, state department, army, union leaders

•Civil Rights, Gay rights and women’s rights activists

•Artists, rock and roll bands, teenagers, the Girl Scouts and many more

What happened to them:• People who refused to cooperate with questioning

were blacklisted.• Blacklisting meant that their professional reputation

was ruined and no one would hire them in case they too were accused.

• Suspected communists were asked to confess and identify other “Red” sympathisers.

•Many people tried to save themselves through false confessions

• This created the idea that America was overrun with communists and increased the hysteria.

Propaganda•McCarthy inspired a culture of

fear, where people were encouraged to spy on and report their neighbours

The end of McCarthy•McCarthy’s influence can to an end quite suddenly

when his accusations went too far.• In 1953, he began claiming the Army was being

infiltrated by Communists and began investigating them.

•At this President Eisenhower intervened.•McCarthy’s hearings were televised and people saw

how unfair the trials were and that he was aggressive and a bully.

• Edward R Murrows publically criticised McCarthy in 1954 on television for abusing American’s rights

• In 1954 he was publically reprimanded for abusing and insulting the senate during proceedings and was voted from his position of power.

Other Witch Hunts to consider•McCarthyism came to be known as a witch hunt.•This can be explained as a hysterical search for

people who stand for ideas that are not mainstream, usually out of fear or moral panic, often without concrete evidence or fair trials.

• It is worth considering other “witch-hunts” in history to use in your writing.

Other Witch Hunts•The 21st Century Witch hunt: War on Terror•Attitudes to Muslims changed drastically throughout the

world after September 11, 2001, the Bali Bombings of 2002 and the London Suicide Bombings of 2005

• Fear and prejudice for anyone who was different became much more widespread.

•Anti-Terrorism laws were established throughout the western world these allowed for the detaining and deporting of immigrants suspected (but not convicted) of terrorism, invasions of privacy and surveillance of individuals

• People were held without trial for extended periods (Guantanamo Bay)

•More recently: Mosque at Ground Zero and this blog

Other Witch Hunts•Things you could research:• Controversy over the Patriot Act in the USA (The

documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 by Michael Moore would be of interest)

•Australian Terror Laws, “Be alert not alarmed”, National Security Hotline

•Unlawful detainment in Guantanamo Bay•David Hicks• Treatment of prisoners in Abu Grahib• The shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes in the London

underground, 2005• The Cronulla Riots• Children Overboard •Ousting of K. Rudd?

Other Witch Hunts• Can you see similarities between The Crucible and:• The activities of the Ku Klux Klan• The Scottsboro Trials in the 1930s (think To Kill a

Mockingbird)• Internment of Japanese Australians/Americans during

WWII• Targeting of Gays and Lesbians in the 20th Century• False accusations of child molestation in 1980s US

(http://ktffilms.com/news.html)•Real witch hunts in modern day Africa and India•And, of course, targeting Jews under Hitler

Expository or Persuasive Planning• If you are planning on writing in these styles, create a

table as outlined below to consider the aspects of conflict that are dealt with in The Crucible.

• Create separate tables for: Causes of Conflict, types of conflict, consequences/impact of conflict, how people respond to conflict, resolving conflict.

• Be as detailed as you can as this will help you broaden your ideas for your writing.

CAUSES OF CONFLICT

Cause The Crucible

McCarthyism Other historical or current events

Personal Experiences

e.g. Personal agendas

Abigail has lost ProctorPutnam has lost status

McCarthy was not very influential, wanted attention

Children overboard: Howard used it to be re - elected

You want a promotion, so you sabotage other applicants

Expository or Persuasive PlanningTYPES OF CONFLICT

Type of Conflict The Crucible McCarthyism

Historical/Current Personal

Religious/ Political

Factions question Parris’ leadership.

Fear of Communist threat to democracy

Conflict between Western ideology and Muslim extremists

Generational differences in religious beliefs

CONSEQUENCES OF CONFLICT

Consequence The Crucible McCarthyism

Historical/Current Personal

Cracks in society are revealed

Arguing, accusing others, loss of faith

Prejudice surfaces, spying

Racism becomes acceptable, people question leadership

Creative Responses• If you are considering writing a response where

the ideas from the text are implicit, use the same table approach to create ideas.

• If you are considering writing a response that is directly based on the play, you need to plan the types of responses you could write for each type of prompt you might get.

• If you are unsure – do both.

Creative responses•E.g.

Type of Prompt

Aspect of Prompt

Text based response Parallel to text

Causes Fear Letter to the Proctors from Mary Warren explaining why she blamed John Proctor

Parody of 1950s suburban conformity

Personal Grievance

Write the scene where Elizabeth Proctor throws Abigail out

Desire for Power

Your Writing• If you want to make reference to parallels between

The Crucible and historical or current events, you need to:

•Research carefully•Be specific and detailed – don’t make general or

vague statements e.g. “Hitler killed the Jews in World War II” – well, der! Discuss specific instances – pogroms in Poland, Auschwitz, survivors stories

•Look for the personal angle: tell the stories of individual situations rather than overall statements

Your writing• If you are writing creatively, you need to know the

characters and the language use very well. •Developing character profiles may help with this.•Beware of writing in the first person. You will have

to be able to reflect the style of speaking as it is shown in the play.

• If writing in the third person, you can reflect Miller’s style in the asides that he writes in Act 1.