Answer:
In 1692, the most famous witch-hunt took place in Salem, Massachusetts due to the fear of the Devil and supernatural creatures. The accusations of witches in Salem started when Betty Parris and Abigail Williams, two young girls suffering from a mysterious disorder, were convinced that witches had inflicted them. With their unstable minds and lack of judgment, the girls randomly called out names of village women to blame. (Schanzer, 21). Unfortunately, by the end of the chaos, 200 people had been accused of witchcraft, 19 of which were hanged, 1 pressed to death, and 3 others killed in jail. (Mofford, 65). As a consequence, the Salem Witch Trials remains to be a significant and highly memorable incident in American history since it showed how religion could be a weapon by those with vile intent and indicated the fragility of society faced with selfish leadership, paranoia, and xenophobia. In a way, the trials had portrayed a pattern in politics that would be repeated around the world in the following years to come. In 1953, Arthur Miller, a prestigious American playwright and essayist, figured out a way to skillfully protest against the communist ‘witch hunts’ during his time by writing The Crucible. His play, which based its story on the Salem Witch Trials, was actually an allegory of McCarthysim when the U.S. government blacklisted the communists. (Miller, 158). Miller stated, “The play is not history in the sense in which the word is used by the academic historian…However I believe that the reader will discover here the essential nature of one of the strangest and most awful chapters in human history…” (Miller, 1). As a result, this study argues 3 main points: In the play The Crucible, social aspects of the Salem Witch Trials in 1692 such as the overall structure of the church-based Puritan society and the aftermath of the trials on the villagers are displayed with accuracy while the individuals, the key players of the trials, are greatly dramatized and altered.
The Crucible accurately depicts the overall social structure of Salem including the life of the villagers, the Puritan Church, and the court system. The play is set in a theocratic society in which the church and state forms a close relationship, and where religious virtue is strictly conducted. The characters are forced to attend church and are unable to deviate from the social norm since any sort of individual behavior goes against the moral laws. (Miller, 5). For example, Danforth, one of the judges at the witch trials, says to Francis Nurse, “You must understand, sir, that a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between.” (Miller, 94). Historically, Salem was an isolated community suffering from inconvenient travel and from frequent threatening attacks by wild animals as well as Native Americans. (Wilson, 32). Generally, the males gathered to vote, debate laws, and elect representatives at church. In other words, they had complete authority over women who demonstrated religious obedience toward the men. Furthermore, Puritan doctrine demonstrated the absolute authority of God, the significance of prayer, and the existence of the Devil. (Schanzer, 16). Specifically, the Puritans believed in the Natural World of human beings and the Invisible World of demonic forces such as witches that brought misfortune, sickness, and grief. In addition, the court system included strict guidelines of social order. (Sewall, 358). Criticism against government and acts of independence were viewed to be great sin. (Wilson, 20). Hence, the overall social aspects of Salem stated above are skillfully weaved in the dialogues and court procedures of the play.
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