The Crucible and the McCarthy Era Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, depicts the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692 but is analogous to the McCarthy trials of the 1950s. In both situations, widespread hysteria occurs, stemming from existing fears of the people of that particular era. The Salem witchhunt trials parallel the McCarthy era in three major aspects: unfounded accusations, hostile interrogation of numerous innocent people and the ruination and death of various people’s lives. The …showed first 75 words of 500 total…

…showed last 75 words of 500 total…girls’ unfounded accusations. The Salem witchcraft trials are very similar to the McCarthy trials in three aspects: unfounded accusations, hostile interrogation of numerous innocent people and the ruination and death of various people’s lives. Mass accusations are made for personal gain and no good has resulted from these trials. Arthur Miller has written The Crucible, not for historical accuracy but rather, as an outlet for his sentiments during the time of the McCarthy trials.