The Crucible by Arthur Miller Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Crucible by Arthur Miller - Coursework Example The Crucible is known as a parable, this mean there can be a direct link made between the events of the 17th Century witch trials, to the Communist ‘with hunts’ in the United States that occurred at the time Miller wrote the play. The first US production of The Crucible occurred in January 1953, this was a time of the Red Scare where Senator John McCarthy made false allegations of Communism against various people, this particularly affected people in the Arts and film industry who were know to hold more Leftist views. Miller comments that the propaganda of McCarthyism, the Red Scare and Communism â€Å"from the far Right was capable of creating not only a terror, but a new subjective reality† (39). Miller speaks of himself being astounded within the McCarthy era by how fear, an â€Å"interior and subjective an emotion could have been so manifestly created from without† (40). Miller describes John Proctor as intelligent, physically strong, rationale and stab le. With particular reference to his state of mind he’s described as â€Å"even tempered† with a â€Å"steady manner† (239). Yet, despite this outward appearance there is a sense of him feeling hypocritical from having sinned, and it is said that he â€Å"has come to regard himself as a kind of fraud.† (239). He is shown as determined to put an end to any previous relationships with Abigail in a polite but determined manner, this is indicated by the stage directions, â€Å"PROCTOR, gently pressing her from him, with great sympathy but firmly† (241). Proctor’s guilt for being disloyal to Elizabeth is show by anger when Abigail mentions her. Proctor is shown to be a rationale man who doesn’t believe in all the nonsense about devils and he’s a person who speaks his mind: â€Å"I may speak my heart, I think† (246). Proctor’s relationship with Elizabeth is awkward, they initially make formal small-talk about food and w ork, but there is evident strain in their relationship, evident when he says to her â€Å"I mean to please you† and she finds it difficult to acknowledge â€Å"I know it John† (262). When he kisses her she is disappointed. There is a sense of duty perceived from Elizabeth as she performs her housewife role, and an expectation from Proctor. As their conversation turns more argumentative, Proctor is described as â€Å"Angry and Stubborn† whilst Elizabeth is â€Å"quiet†¦cold†¦and lost all faith† (264). Elizabeth is still suspicious of Proctor, whilst he is fed up feeling guilty and judged by her. Proctor learns that the total accused women has increased form 14 – 39 and that one of the ladies has been sentenced to hang. It is indicated that Elizabeth’s name was mentioned too. He finds the whole accusations ridiculous when good honest religious women are accused, and elderly women too. As the scene progresses and he is tested on the c ommandments – he begins to take the threat more seriously. When Proctor is talking to Hale about the girls’ lies he says: â€Å"There are them that will swear to anything before they’ll hang† (275). He thinks if Hale does not believe him, that others in court may not too. When Cheever arrives with a warrant for Elizabeth and mentions the poppet, Mary is summoned. Proctor’