Image: http://a5.files.biography.com/image/upload/c_fill,cs_srgb,dpr_1.0,g_face,h_300,q_80,w_300/MTE5NDg0MDU1MDQ3NzM0Nzk5.jpg
In 1947, President Truman called for background checks of all government employees ("McCarthyism"). "Once Alger Hiss, a high-ranking State Department official was convicted on espionage charges, fear of communism intensified ("McCarthyism")." McCarthy only made the country's hysteria skyrocket when he claimed that he knew of several communist spies planted in the government. On February 20, 1950, McCarthy spoke in front of the Senate, listing several names of government officials and providing no hard evidence to their "guilt" ("McCarthyism"). Still, the Senate launched a full investigation. At first, McCarthy accused low-level government employees, just as the afflicted girls of the witch trials initially accused social outcasts. However, McCarthy later began bringing in high-ranking officials for questioning, just as the afflicted girls began accusing respected members of Puritan society, such as Rebecca Nurse ("McCarthyism"). However, McCarthyism lost support in 1954, when McCarthy began attacking the United States Military ("McCarthyism").
In 1947, President Truman called for background checks of all government employees ("McCarthyism"). "Once Alger Hiss, a high-ranking State Department official was convicted on espionage charges, fear of communism intensified ("McCarthyism")." McCarthy only made the country's hysteria skyrocket when he claimed that he knew of several communist spies planted in the government. On February 20, 1950, McCarthy spoke in front of the Senate, listing several names of government officials and providing no hard evidence to their "guilt" ("McCarthyism"). Still, the Senate launched a full investigation. At first, McCarthy accused low-level government employees, just as the afflicted girls of the witch trials initially accused social outcasts. However, McCarthy later began bringing in high-ranking officials for questioning, just as the afflicted girls began accusing respected members of Puritan society, such as Rebecca Nurse ("McCarthyism"). However, McCarthyism lost support in 1954, when McCarthy began attacking the United States Military ("McCarthyism").
Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Communist party?
Image: https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/514492965016727552/Bh4j-ua8_400x400.jpeg
As McCarthy targeted government officials, The House Un-American Activities Committee targeted the Hollywood film industry ("McCarthyism"). Many were called before the Committee, and, like in the witch trials, those who confessed to the accusations and named more names were free to return to their normal lives, or in the witch trials, imprisonment rather than hanging. Those who swore their innocence faced either imprisonment or blacklisting, which blackened their name in the workforce, as those in the witch trials faced execution ("McCarthyism").
Arthur Miller, playwright of "The Crucible", an allegory for the "witch hunts" of the Red Scare, appeared before The House Un-American Activities Committee on June 21, 1956 (Glass). "The committee had subpoenaed after he sought to renew his passport (Glass)." Miller had been planning to visit Brussels, Belgium with his wife, Marilyn Monroe, to see the premiere of his new play, "The Crucible". HUAC's chairman, Francis Walter, had promised Miller that he would not have to give names, but that proved to be false. "I could not use the name of another person and bring trouble on him," said Miller in response to the committees demands (Glass). Miller also refused to talk about his political views, referencing his First Amendment rights (Glass). "Asked Why the Communist party had produced one of his plays, he said, "I take no more responsibility for who plays my plays than General Motors can take for who rides in their Chevrolets."' Arthur Miller describes his interaction with Communism as having to "go to hell to meet the devil." In 1957, Miller was required to pay a fine of five hundred dollars or go to prison for thirty days, as punishment for contempt of Congress (Glass). However, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned his sentence (Glass).
It is not possible that "The Crucible" was based off of Arthur Miller's own experience with HUAC, as his hearing occurred after his play had been produced. However, it is likely that Miller based his play off of the experience of his close friend, the well-known director, Elia Kazan ("About Elia Kazan"). Kazan stood before HUAC in 1952, where he listed several names of people in the same workforce as him. This allowed him to avoid trouble, himself, but he continued to receive hate for his actions, several decades after the incident ("About Elia Kazan"). After hearing a recording of Kazan's hearing, Miller visited Salem, Massachusetts, where the pieces for his play fell together ("Why Arthur Miller Wrote "The Crucible"'). Arthur Miller released his play, "The Crucible", in 1953 ("Why Arthur Miller Wrote "The Crucible"').
As McCarthy targeted government officials, The House Un-American Activities Committee targeted the Hollywood film industry ("McCarthyism"). Many were called before the Committee, and, like in the witch trials, those who confessed to the accusations and named more names were free to return to their normal lives, or in the witch trials, imprisonment rather than hanging. Those who swore their innocence faced either imprisonment or blacklisting, which blackened their name in the workforce, as those in the witch trials faced execution ("McCarthyism").
Arthur Miller, playwright of "The Crucible", an allegory for the "witch hunts" of the Red Scare, appeared before The House Un-American Activities Committee on June 21, 1956 (Glass). "The committee had subpoenaed after he sought to renew his passport (Glass)." Miller had been planning to visit Brussels, Belgium with his wife, Marilyn Monroe, to see the premiere of his new play, "The Crucible". HUAC's chairman, Francis Walter, had promised Miller that he would not have to give names, but that proved to be false. "I could not use the name of another person and bring trouble on him," said Miller in response to the committees demands (Glass). Miller also refused to talk about his political views, referencing his First Amendment rights (Glass). "Asked Why the Communist party had produced one of his plays, he said, "I take no more responsibility for who plays my plays than General Motors can take for who rides in their Chevrolets."' Arthur Miller describes his interaction with Communism as having to "go to hell to meet the devil." In 1957, Miller was required to pay a fine of five hundred dollars or go to prison for thirty days, as punishment for contempt of Congress (Glass). However, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned his sentence (Glass).
It is not possible that "The Crucible" was based off of Arthur Miller's own experience with HUAC, as his hearing occurred after his play had been produced. However, it is likely that Miller based his play off of the experience of his close friend, the well-known director, Elia Kazan ("About Elia Kazan"). Kazan stood before HUAC in 1952, where he listed several names of people in the same workforce as him. This allowed him to avoid trouble, himself, but he continued to receive hate for his actions, several decades after the incident ("About Elia Kazan"). After hearing a recording of Kazan's hearing, Miller visited Salem, Massachusetts, where the pieces for his play fell together ("Why Arthur Miller Wrote "The Crucible"'). Arthur Miller released his play, "The Crucible", in 1953 ("Why Arthur Miller Wrote "The Crucible"').
Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Elia_Kazan_NYWTS_b.jpg