Examples Of Mccarthyism In The Crucible

The era of McCarthyism was one of blame and accusations. McCarthy and his followers looked for anyone and everyone they could to victimize as communist believers. Arthur Miller, the author of The Crucible, was one of those many. As a famous play-writer during this time, Miller was blacklisted by McCarthy for refusing to testify in front of the HUAC (House of Un-American Activities Committee), and through this he realized a common social issue that can be applied world wide. Arthur Miller argues that during times of crisis, in order for strong people to preserve their own power and reputation, they often point fingers at the weak first to distract others from their own guilt.

People hiding guilt frequently place it on those of weak groups to get away with their wrongdoings. In The Crucible, as the first news of witchcraft comes to the city of Salem, everyone was looking for the people responsible. Abigail, who did attempt to participate in witchcraft, tried maintaining her power and status in town by covering herself up and shifting focus off of herself, and onto Tituba. “She made me do it! She made Betty do it!”, (Abigail, pg 45). Since Tituba had an extremely low status, being in multiple minority groups (black, woman, slave), Abigail quickly chose her as the victim, and those listening believed it
On a daily basis you see minorities taking punishment for things they didn’t do, women blamed by men for their own issues, and those who are different being taken as the source of trouble in a community. People will believe any accusations made on someone of lower status by someone higher up so easily, often without any clear reasoning, that those of power use this to a level of abuse. This social issue is one that we all know too well. When people of a high reputation want to protect it, they do it by pinning blame on the