Question

In a short essay, discuss how the play The Crucible reflects the time in which it was written (the 1950's). Be sure to mention political, religious, social, and artistic events that shaped the work.

Answer 1

The political events that shaped the play are related to the role Senator Joseph Mc Carthy played in the U.S  Congress during the Cold War with the Soviet Union - after World War II-. Mc Carthy was totally against communists. He wanted to root out any potential communism sympathizer. His policies caused a wave of paranoia in the US.

Religious is reflected in the setting. The play was set in Puritan New England in 1692. This religious fact was used by Miller to make a comparison between what the Puritans did to a group of colonists accused of witchcraft and what Mc Carthy did to potential communists. In the play, the Massachusetts government and the Judicial System got influenced by Puritanism. As a consequence, the colonists that had been accused of witchcraft were sent to prison. McCarthy 's policies could have the same effect on communist sympathizers.

Social events were related to artistic events.  McCarthy's search for potential communists affected the government and the entertainment industry. Besides, there was an organization , the House of Un -American Activities Committee, that investigated connections  between artists , people from the popular media;  famous writers and communists. Miller was shocked by these activities.