What did Arthur Miller have to do with McCarthyism and what were his personal beliefs in contrast to the generally accepted beliefs of society at that time?
What did Arthur Miller have to do with McCarthyism and what were his personal beliefs in contrast to the generally accepted beliefs of society at that time?
Understand McCarthyism, then read the Crucible and you'll know exactly how he felt about McCarthy and his anti-communist tirades![]()
I'm weary with right-angles, abbreviated daylight,
Waiting for a winter to be done.
Why do I still see you in every mirrored window,
In all that I could never overcome?
That seems like a pretty specific question - is it yours or your teacher's?
The Crucible was perceived as 'un-American' during the Red Scare, if I remember correctly. McCarthy was a Red Scare nut, and once Miller left the country (he went to Paris) he wasn't allowed back in.
Some reading (wikipedia so treat with appropriate caution)
The Crucible
McCarthyism
As an artist, Arthur Miller was one of the main targets of McCarthy's witch-hunt. One of his greatest plays,The Crucible, depicts exactly this persecution, whether it comes from a religious (clergy) or a political force, as in McCarthy's case. Danforth, the high judge in the play, is an allegorical figure for McCarthy.
If you want more information on the theme, you can check the following books: I used them myself for my best project in the university, and I think they can help you.
Baker's Arthur Miller's The Crucible
Bigsby's Arthur Miller: A Critical Study and The Cambridge Companion to Arthur Miller
Gottfried's Arthur Miller: His Life and Work.
Norton's In The Devil'd Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis if 1692.
None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe that they are free.
-Goethe