Salem, McCarthy, and Modern-day Witch Hunts

(And maybe a little social commentary, too)

Salem Witch Hunts

What is true in The Crucible?What of the alleged affair?How many people died?How many were accused?Did Tituba really exist?Were the girls really dancing naked?

The Truth Shall Be Revealed:

Sorry…no affair took placeNearly 20 men and women were put to death (5 others died in jail)Approx. 150 people were accusedTituba definitely was a real personNaked dancing is a fallacy

So what really happened?

Started in January of 1692Extremely wet winter

The young girls had various maladiesHallucinations, vomiting, severe muscle spasms, crawling of the skin, delusions, and more

Religious community began to point fingersPeople became afraid and suspicious

Martyrs

Those who were first accused (including Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne) decided it was wrong to admit guilt—even though it would save their livesOthers eventually stood up to the courts and the trials ended in October, 1692

What was to blame?

Experts now think that the girls’ symptoms came from a reaction to a rye fungus that creates LSD like effects (similar to what the girls experienced)The wet winter and dry summer (which are documented) would explain the emergence and disappearance of the symptoms

Arthur Miller

BackgroundInteresting FactsHis own experience

About the Author

Grew up in a wealthy NY family until the 1929 Stock Market CrashBegan working to help family make ends meetEnded up attending University of Michigan and studying Journalism before switching to English

More on Arthur

Became a well-known and respected author and playwright during the 1940sAlso became a suspected member of the Communist PartyAfter working on “Death of a Salesman,” Miller and other actors and actresses were accused of Communism by the film’s director, Elia Kazan

Communists Affects

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) began investigationMiller began his own investigation in SalemMiller also eventually found an interesting romance during this time…

Miller’s Love Life

Yes…It is true. Miller and Marilyn were married for several years before getting a divorce. She even risked her career when he went before HUAC.

Miller a Communist?

When HUAC subpoenaed him:Found guiltyFined $500Sentenced to 30 days prisonBlacklisted

Still refused to name other peopleConviction overturned in 1958 because HUAC committee chair “misled” Miller

Sen. Joe McCarthy

Republican Sen. from Wisconsin (had a difficult time gaining office)In the 1950s, McCarthy started accusing people of Communism in the State Dept.Often failed to have concrete evidence

The Investigations Continue

McCarthy looked for more support when Republicans took over control in 1953Little support was foundMcCarthy was openly denounced Lost momentum in 1954Censured by a vote (67-22)

Implications

BlacklistsModern-day Witch HuntsSuspicious Minds

Witch Hunts

A political campaign launched to investigate people or activities that might be subversive to the state or local governing boardFamous witch hunts: Holocaust, McCarthy Era, Japanese Internment Camps,

Social Commentary

Rebelling against an individual or a group of people using rhetorical meansAttempt to implement change by informing the publicCommonly practiced in all forms of communication (written and spoken)