As a socially conscious writer, Miller intended The Crucible as a commentary on the anti-Communist hysteria of the late 1940s and 1950s. Discuss one example of how this is evident in the play.
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The most obvious example in my mind in The Crucible is when John Proctor is accused of being a witch. This shows The Crucibles allegory to the Red Scare very clearly. When John Proctor is accused, he is asked whether he knows of anyone else in the town who may be a witch. Proctor denies any knowledge of witches within the town and is thus killed for his response and actions. This scene in the play goes hand in hand with the accusations of Communist activity in Hollywood. In Hollywood, writers and directors were put on trial for having relations to pro-communism movies or ideas. They were forced to tell the names of others in Hollywood who were for communism in order to try and save them selves from getting killed or imprisoned. In both Hollywood and in John Proctors case, the result of getting labeled as a possible communist or witch resulted in complete destruction of their social standings. John Proctor was practically shunned in town and loss of respect by his neighbors. In Hollywood, the actors and directors accused lost their career and social status of fame by the world. In The Crucible, the famous line is “Did you see Abigail with the devil.” The name of those with the devil changes throughout the book and play, but the line is incredibly similar to the line they would ask those suspected of being affiliated with the Communist party. There are many other examples of the similarities between The Crucible and the hysteria of anti-Communism, but this example always stands out.