Similarities Between The Red Scare And The Crucible

“The Crucible”, is a play that tells a real life phenomenon, set in 17oo’s Salem, Massachusetts where a town of Puritans were settled. When a slave woman and a group of young, trouble-making girls begin to act out, the town becomes suspicious and the madness of the witch trials begin. The play serves as an allegory for “The Red Scare” an era in U.S. history that unforgivingly persecuted communists. There are multiple parallels that can be drawn between both of these stories. One major difference is who can be named responsible for each event. In “The Red Scare”, the U.S government is mainly to blame, but in The Crucible we can pinpoint specific characters that greatly contributed to the horror of the witch trials. These characters are John

Proctor and Abigail Williams. John Proctor is known as a simple, respectable farmer who resides just outside of Salem. He is singled out for refusing to attend church due to resentment of the newly ordained, Reverend Parris along with his wife, Elizabeth Proctor. When Abigail, niece of Reverend Parris, comes to work for the Proctors as a house servant, a fiery affair between John and Abigail ensues. Elizabeth immediately discharges Abigail of her services upon finding out but the damage between not only the Proctor marriage, but the townspeople had already been set in place.
These characters are mainly responsible due to their selfish intentions and motives that led to the downfall of others in the town and soon themselves.

Too caught up in their own agendas, their ignorance or lack of empathy caused them to disregard the welfare of the innocent townspeople. Abigail, a primary character in the play, is an obvious choice. Her strong lust and infatuation with John Proctor motivated her to manipulate the people around her. In an opportunity to take Goody Proctor out of the equation, she persecutes her as a witch as other townspeople are named as well. Her envy of Elizabeth moves her to pretend to be afflicted by witches and the impressionable girls soon follow her lead in either genuine belief or to persecute other people in Salem who they may also resent. Abigal not only manipulates the townspeople and her posse of girls, but the town magistrate as well. This system of deceit, paranoia and corruption singlehandedly caused the downfall of the town all due to a young girl's infatuation. Abigail’s motive is spoken clearly in an angry confession made by John Proctor when he came to the courthouse to tell the truth. He says, “I’ll tell you what’s walking Salem-vengeance is walking Salem...but now the little crazy children are dangling keys of the kingdom and common vengeance writes the law.” (pg 177 line 880-884). The “keys” represent the town authority and now the young girls have taken control of it, law and jurisdiction is now based on

revenge and resentment of others within the town. John shows that the true purpose behind the witch trials and hysteria is petty vengeance, especially Abigail’s motives toward Elizabeth. Despite this statement, Abigail's manipulations make her intentions seem innocent and almost pure. Others in the town don’t see Abigail and the situation for what is really is; a “common vengeance”. John heartily confesses this when stating, “She thinks to dance on my wife’s grave. And well she might, for I thought her softly, God help me I lusted and there is a promise in such sweat.” (pg 193 line 864-868). John was foremost subject to her manipulations as much as the rest of the town.
As much as Abigail bears the weight of the burden, John Proctor equally bears that weight. It was the affair between them that led to the unfolding of other events in the play, but specifically his ignorance and pride. John Proctor was so preoccupied with his lust, that he did not consider the consequences of his actions. He causes the rift between him and his wife but blames her as well. This is demonstrated in their argument before he appeared before the court in the town. John professes, “Spare me? You forget nothin and forgive nothing. Learn charity woman.” (pg 270). John does not truly understand how his actions affected Elizabeth but doesn’t want to fully acknowledge what he did as well. He victimizes himself and ignores the true threat of the situation; Abigail and her evil schemes. John knows that he must speak up of his infidelity but remains silence to preserve his pride and name. Due to this, he equally bears the weight that he seeks to be free from.
Some might argue Abigail alone caused the catastrophe and John was only a victim. But we must remember that it wasn’t until his wife was taken in for suspicion of witchcraft before he decided to speak the truth of the matter. He not underestimates Abigail’s abilities, and therefore jeopardizes himself and the rest of the town. John withheld the affair between him and Abigail because he did not want to tarnish his name and failed to realize that bigger things than his reputation were at stake.