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Post by alysonm7 on Oct 15, 2007 16:02:27 GMT -5
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Post by chrisd02 on Oct 15, 2007 21:12:58 GMT -5
I see many connections between the Crucible and the "Red Scare". In The Crucible people blame others in order to remain safe from persecution, but in the end this "finger pointing" only creates more conflict. The accusations also prompt people to lie in order to avoid being hanged. We see this when Tituba declares, "I tell him I don't desire to work for him, sir" (Arthur Miller 44). Tituba admits that she had affiliations with the devil in order to save herself. She then goes on to say,"I love God with all my bein'" (45). Thus, the accusations lead people to lie because those who are listening only want to hear one answer: that they were involved with witchcraft. In the "Red Scare" people accuse others of being communists, leading to panic and false accusations. Many people were jailed, lost their jobs, and were branded as anti-American in the same way that the characters in The Crucible were branded anti-Christian.
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Post by markf2 on Oct 16, 2007 15:44:30 GMT -5
The question was raised in class as to why Arthur Miller wrote this play during the Red Scare. I agree with DeLaFuente that there are many connections between The Crucible and the Red Scare. This was obviously not a coincidence, as the play both reflects certain events that occured during the Red Scare, like the finger-pointing to avoid execution, and it was written during the Red Scare. Maybe one of Miller's points was to try and connect both the historic events of Puritans during the Salem Witch Trials to his present time of American's during the Red Scare in order to show that although America has changed from the 1600's, it is not completely different. Revision, not replacement.
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Post by sophied02 on Oct 16, 2007 16:14:49 GMT -5
The Red Scare and the Salem Witch Trials of the Puritan age both express the tyranny of consensus of the time. The Salem Witch Trials were an attempt to get rid of the people thought to be practicing witchcraft or work of the devil because they were seen as a threat to the consensus of the Puritan people. The Red Scare of the 1950s did exactly the same thing with the rising population of Communists in America. The Communists were a group outside the consensus of American society of that time period and therefore posed as a threat to the government. The American government, very much influenced by Senator Joseph McCarthy, did its best to capture and punish those who were spreading Communism in the 1950s. Arthur Miller wrote the Crucible at this time to show that there had been other times in history when the tyranny of consensus has been exercised and has gotten rid of a group of people with beliefs outside of the major group in power.
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Post by amandac02 on Oct 16, 2007 19:27:53 GMT -5
To take Sophie's argument even further, Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible not only to tell about other instances of the tyranny of consensus, but to warn the American public against its dangers. In the 1950's there was utter chaos, "finger-pointing," as Mark put it. So uncertain Americans naturally placed their faith in authority, the United States government. Unfortunately, the government was also, in this case, the cause of the repression. Think about what would have happened if Arthur Miller had written a straight criticism of the government. As a direct result of the tyranny, he would have almost certainly been accused of being Communist, executed blacklisted (thanks Dan!), and disregarded. The Crucible is a subtle criticism, relating the current social situation to a situation that quickly spun out of control. It wouldn't have taken a rocket scientist in the 1950's to connect the events in the play to those of his or her own life. Miller knows this and takes advantage of it, hoping that the reader will come away realizing that the Red Scare is as superficial and hypocritical as The Crucible presents the Salem Witch Trials to be.
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Post by danl02 on Oct 17, 2007 22:27:18 GMT -5
In American History, there were 2 Red Scares, the latter being more famous and powerful. It was all started by one man named Joseph McCarthy in 1947 shortly after WW II. This era would later be known as McCarthyism.
Unknown and unheard of, this senator one day tried to be heard by claiming that he knew dozens of Communists working in the American government. This soon snowballed, and McCarthy would take great care to make sure that he would profit off of this. It wouldn't be long before even 2 presidents would fear the words that came out of his mouth, as the general American population were willing to believe anything that this "saint" said during their time of paranoia. Sounds similar to a certain troublesome girl from the Crucible?
amanda: in the 2nd Red Scare, Miller wouldn't have been executed. The most famous couple that was executed would be the Rosenburgs, which resulted in considerable outroar from the American public despite the paranoia at the time. More executions would go against the views of society. However, it was still a bit risky since at the time of the play's "publication" as people were arrested or asked to leave the country for seriously disobeying laws or consensus. But remember that in the book, Miller made several open attacks against McCarthyism but that the play is quite different. From just watching the performance, most viewers would not notice the attacks on McCarthy but they would get the concept of consensus being dangerous. So while the attack is present, it is very indirect.
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Post by sallyb02 on Oct 18, 2007 21:11:50 GMT -5
To bring The Red Scare, McCarthyism, and The Crucible all together, I found this website that has a detailed description of The Red Scare. It then goes on to show the effects of it on movies/plays. drhill.tripod.com/ssi3240/pdf/lecture8.htm People changed the way they lived and acted in both the 1600's and the 1900's. That website shows how the world changed in the entertainment business during the 1900’s. The producers incorporated the new ideals and the new audiences that were brought upon by The Red Scare. The Red Scare allowed Miller to write "The Crucible" because it related to both periods of crisis. For people reading this play, it is evident that these new ideals were reflected in it. If it were not for the Salem Witch Trials or the Red Scare, this play like many other entertainment productions would have some changes to them.
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Post by allil02 on Oct 18, 2007 22:47:41 GMT -5
The mere name of this judicially enforced organization shows the Tyranny of Consensus at it's best. "The House of Un-American Activities Committee" Simply being "Un-American", and astray from the consensus, was enough to destroy many American's lives by blacklisting them, and forcing them into unemployment. People were even fined at this time if they didn't "finger-point" at other innocent Americans, of all charges but freedom of mind.
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Post by nickb07 on Oct 19, 2007 10:07:10 GMT -5
This play is closely related to the Red Scare, but I see most clearly in it the fear that is instilled in the society from a young age. As said in the song "With God on Our Side," by Bob Dylan, fear of the Russians and hate for the Russians was learned from childhood, just as in "The Crucible" fear of witchcraft and devil worship is taught at a young age. This fear instilled from childhood can lead to irational and unnecesary reactions, such as the Salem Witch trials.
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Post by katiee03 on Oct 16, 2008 21:17:11 GMT -5
It is obvious that the Red Scare is very similar to the Crucible but overall the main point is that like the Red Scare everyone was accusing others to keep themselves safe and in the consensus. I thought it was put very well in post number 2 which said, "In The Crucible people blame others in order to remain safe from persecution, but in the end this "finger pointing" only creates more conflict"- said by chrisd02
During class, Mr. Cheddar made a point saying that the reason we study the Puritans is because they still affect us today. In post 3 it said, "Maybe one of Miller's points was to try and connect both the historic events of Puritans during the Salem Witch Trials to his present time of American's during the Red Scare"- said by markf2 The ideas of accusing people to stay safe was relevant in both the Crucible and in the events of the Red Scare.
I thought the character of Abigail in the Crucible is also very similar to John McCarthy. Abigail is the leader in the witch hunt because whoever she accuses is considered a witch. McCarthy was able to do the same thing and put 57 people on the balcklist. McCarthy accused people who were alcoholics or homosexual. Ironically he was both but by accusing people he was able to save himself as did Abigail. After Abigail was caught dancing and doing witchcraft she began to point the finger at others to hide what was true.
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