Probably the best-known literary work dealing with McCarthyism is the Arthur Miller (1915- ) drama The Crucible (1953). While ostensibly about the 17th-century Salem, Massachusetts, witchcraft trials, Miller's play clearly targets the "witch hunts" of McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC).

When a group of adolescent girls in Salem are discovered dancing in the woods at night, they defend themselves by claiming to have been bewitched. The leader of the group, Abigail Williams, identifies as one of the witches Elizabeth Proctor, the wife of John Proctor, with whom Abigail has had an affair. After the arrest of his wife, John Proctor appears in court before the McCarthy figure in the play, Deputy Governor Danforth. In his wife's defense, Proctor brings in a petition, signed by 91 citizens, testifying to her good reputation. Danforth orders the arrest of everyone who signed. When Abigail appears in court, Proctor confronts her, admitting that the two had an affair and asserting that the reason for Abigail's accusation is her desire to have his wife out of the way. Abigail denies the charge and feigns a seizure. When Elizabeth is asked if she had any knowledge of her husband's affair, she answers no, thinking to protect him, but her answer discredits his confession. The Proctors' servant, Mary Warren, to protect herself from charges of witchcraft, denounces Proctor, and he is arrested. Elizabeth is freed, and Proctor is offered a pardon if he will give the names of other witches. He refuses and is hanged along with other innocent citizens.

One of the strengths of the play is the author's ability to reproduce believable 17th-century dialogue, infusing it with poetic passion at critical moments. Its chief fault, in the eyes of many critics, is its one-sidedness. In attacking McCarthyism, Miller took an important and courageous stand in response to a 1950s menace, but weakened his play, in the process, by presenting his prosecutors as evil and corrupt, when, historically, they believed that what they were doing was right. The result is that instead of tragedy, he produced a highly effective melodrama.

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