McCarthyism and The Red Scare

Allegory

• A symbolic narrative• The Crucible is an allegorical tale that Miller used to

comment on the dangers of McCarthyism.

Second Red Scare and McCarthyism

• Second Red Scare: 1947-1957• Focus on foreign and domestic communists infiltrating the

government• McCarthyism – accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or

treason without sufficient evidence• More modern “witch hunt”

Senator Joseph McCarthy

• Republican from Wisconsin• Made claims that there were large numbers of

Communists living in the United States• Exploited the fear of Communism to help him win

reelection

McCarthyism Cartoons – Herb Block

• Look at your cartoon and determine the cartoonist’s message about McCarthyism.

• Then, apply this message to The Crucible. Where do we see Miller making the same point?

• Connect to a quote from the play for support.