Historical character Essay Example

Historical character Essay Example Historical character Essay Historical character Essay Arthur Miller was a playwright who dealt with many issues and themes. His play The Crucible involves a comparison with McCarthyism in the form of the Salem Witch Trials. McCarthyism came about when a politician named Joseph McCarthy tried to cover up his views of an anticommunist policy by using scapegoats. In this play, a girl named Abigail accused almost the whole town of witchcraft. This happened because in her own cunning way she turned the accusation against her, which was created when some girls in the town become ill while conjuring spirits, and used a scapegoat to avoid being hanged. Abigail was the leading figure in both Millers play and real life. Her role in the community was the niece of the village reverend. She appears to be deep and dark minded but intelligent girl who with her age has the power of innocence. Abigail is the leader of this movement as the public hung on to her every word and believed everything she and the rest of the girls say. She knows that she has power and is not afraid of using it to satisfy her needs. The rest of the towns-people see her as a saviour coming from the Devil to rid the world of the witches. The girls and Abigail, however, know that it is just a trick to avoid punishment. As Abigail was the ringleader of the group, she is the first one to use a scapegoat in the form of Tituba. We first see this when Abigail is blamed for the dancing yet quickly turns the blame to Tituba, another servant. When Tituba enters the room Abigail is quick to notice that she could use her as a scapegoat. The fact that Tituba is a black slave from Barbados makes her an easy target, as the people in the room at the time will not believe her innocence over Abigails. This is because they were a racist society. For this, she was easily believed to be under the power of the devil. The reasons for starting all this was cold hearted revenge. The purpose for this might have came from her earlier childhood. She says I will come to you in the black of some terrible night And you know I can do it: I saw Indians smash my dear parents heads on the pillow next to mine, and I have seen some reddish work done at night. Her violent and traumatising past may contribute to her actions that took place and her attitude towards using life to get her way.