The Crucible: historical context

Historical Context of The Crucible

Setting:

The Crucible takes place in the town of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692 during the Salem Witch Trials.
Salem was a Puritan community, meaning it was a community deeply rooted in religion. A strict morality and a strong belief in the devil and witchcraft dominated their worldview.
Many believed that Satan was actively trying to infiltrate and destroy their community and that witches were his servants in this cause.

Red Scare Parallels:

Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible in 1953 during the height of the Red Scare or McCarthyism in America.
During this time, potentially being labeled a communist could result in losing one’s job, being blacklisted, or even imprisonment. Much like being accused of witchcraft in the Salem community, being accused of communism could lead to ruin.
Miller had been questioned by the House of Representatives’ Committee on Un-American Activities in June 1956 and convicted of “contempt of Congress” for refusing to identify others present at meetings he had attended.

Mass Hysteria:

Both the Salem Witch Trials and the McCarthyism period are examples of mass hysteria. In both cases, fear, suspicion, and paranoia gripped the community, leading to irrational behaviour and unfounded accusations.
In Salem, the young girls’ strange illnesses and their accusations of witchcraft against various members of the community created a panic. In the 1950s, the fear of communism took a similar hold over the American public, facilitated by figures like Senator Joseph McCarthy.

Role of Women:

The role of women in the Puritan society of Salem was one of subjugation and powerlessness. Women were largely dependent on men and had very limited rights.
Most of the accused in the Salem Witch Trials were women; the societal design rendered women targets for superstitious suspicion.

Remember, the ability to apply the historical context to the play not only deepens the understanding of The Crucible but is also valuable when staging and interpreting the play in a performance setting.