Kyle Schafer
January 30, 2007
Crucible Paper
The Essential Nature of the Salem Witch Hunts
[Title spoken by Michael Rosano]
A major question some historians ask about Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is “What, according to Miller, is the essential nature of the witch-hunts?” In order to approach The Crucible, one must first understand the time and political atmosphere in which it was written. The Crucible was written as a polemic of Senator Joseph McCarthy and his Communist witch-hunts. Joseph McCarthy constantly accused members of the state department, and later other positions inside and outside politics, of being Communists, capitalizing on the average American’s fear of the Soviet Union and Communism. Joseph McCarthy may or may not have cared about getting Communists out of the American political system, but he certainly seemed to want to use it as a tool to get himself re-elected. A similar case seems to be Arthur Miller’s argument for what the essential nature of the witch-hunts. Those in power didn’t necessarily care as much about the existence of witches or witchcraft, in Salem, as they did in keeping their jobs and staying in positions of power.
It is evident from the very first scene that this play is about power, and not necessarily about witchcraft. On page 10, Reverend Parris says, “Now look you, child, your punishment will come in its time. But if you trafficked with spirits in the forest I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it.” This is a clear sign that Reverend Parris is concerned about power. Furthermore, proof that he cares more about staying in power than hunting for witches is just a few lines later, on page 11, when Parris says to Abigail, “And I pray you feel the weight of truth upon you, for now my ministry’s at stake, my ministry and perhaps your cousin’s life.” The interesting point about this statement is that mention of his ministry comes before, and therefore supersedes, the wellbeing of his daughter. This is not coincidence. These are not transcripts. Arthur Miller is creating dialogue for these characters, and can therefore create his own contexts. When Miller gives Parris a line that puts his job ahead of his daughter, only one thing is clear, and that is that Reverend Parris will do anything to keep his job.
The cries of enemies are not baseless. This is a society that Miller states has a, “...predilection for minding other people’s business...” . This is a meddlesome society with backstabbing, conniving, and scheming (always with the scheming). There were always people out against Parris–namely Thomas Putnam. If Parris cannot find any evidence of witchcraft (whether there actually is any or not) could lead to his ouster. But, if he discovers “witches” (whether guilty or not) he will most likely be praised as a hero and be able to keep his job. Just as it didn’t matter if Joseph McCarthy could find Communists or not, the accusation of Communist could help him get re-elected, and keep his job.
In both McCarthy’s case and, as Miller implies, Parris’ case, guilt was not important. All that was important was the accusations. In a time of hysteria, people need a common enemy to focus on. An accusation of Communist, witch, or more recently terrorist, is all that is required to give people the security to look at and blame. Therefore, Arthur Miller is saying that the essential nature of the Salem witch-hunts was that those in power used a state of mass hysteria to their political advantage, and to keep their jobs, by any means necessary–including the innocent death of others.
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