The Crucible: an introduction by Christopher Bigsby

¶ … Crucible: Questions

According to the introduction, how did the state of Massachusetts attempt to apologize to the victims of the Salem witch hunts, how was one of those apologies somewhat ironic, and why, according to Bigsby, did the state take so long to atone for the situation in Salem, 1692?

"Perversely" as reparations were paid to the living relatives of the victims, individuals such as William Good received money, even though he was his wife's own accuser, as did a confessed witch Abigail Hobbs, who became a witness for the state and condemned others to death (Bigsby viii). Hobbes blamed "Evil Sprits" for her mendacity and compliance with the murderous social order when she apologized for her compliance (Bigsby viii). Bigsby suggests that it took so long for the state to admit error and atone for the crimes of Salem because judicial systems and states are so all-encompassing in their belief in their authority and bureaucratic perfection (almost like a state of spiritual perfection) that admitting error often seems inconceivable. Admit error once, and authority is threatened for all time (Bigsby viii).

Q2: How specifically, is the Crucible allegorical?

The Crucible is an allegory for the political hysteria of McCarthyism in America. Miller was not concerned with historical verisimilitude -- the accusers during the real witch hunt in Salem were children, far too young to have had affairs with any of the individuals whom they were indicting. Miller wished to show the corruption behind all political hysteria -- the girls have personal reasons for making their allegations (Abigail hates John Proctor's wife because Elizabeth is her rival, she hates Mary for defecting from the band of accusers, and then Abigail turns her anger against John). The elders are either deluded or have their own personal reasons for disliking the accused. Also, they gain political power and prestige because of their authority as judges of witchcraft, like the Senators who gained political clout as anti-communists during the McCarthy hearings.

The people of the town of Salem are fearful of being accused in the play, and also superstitious about the possibility of witchcraft. Americans were fearful about a communist ideology they did not understand, and fearful of being accused of being 'red.' Witchcraft is as little-understood by members of the play as communism was by ordinary Americans of the 1950s. Fear, ignorance, personal grievances, and an inflexible political and judicial process result in the death of John Proctor, an innocent man, who dies because he refuses to admit to witchcraft and harm other people.

Individuals who named names were cleared by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) while those who did not name names were often blacklisted and lost their livelihoods. Those who refused to turn others in were the true Americans, protecting freedom, just like John is the truest Christian of the play, even though he dies and does not profess a formal belief in the Christianity of the Puritans.

Q3: Summarize Arthur Miller's experiences with HUAC and discuss the consequences of those experiences for Miller.

Miller was pressured, like so many great artists, to name names of suspected communists. He refused but saw his friends either blacklisted or turn against the Hollywood and artistic hands that had 'fed' them like Elia Kazan, who did cooperate with HUAC. Miller was thus both fearful and revolted by this spectacle.

Q4: Bigsby claims that the Crucible is a play about the seductive nature of power. How so?

The allegations of witchcraft give the girls power -- power they lack in society as young women under normal circumstances to point the fingers at those who are cruel to them (like Abigail hates those women who consider her sexually forward) or people who are superior to them economically, like the poor servant Mary Warren. The justices and leaders of the town gain in power, as they are invested with a protective authority and the power to accuse.