In early 1692, in the small village of Salem, Massachusetts, a group of girls fell ill, falling victim to hallucinations and convulsions. In extremely religious Puritan New England, frightening or startling events were often attributed to the devil or his followers. The unexplained illness sparked fears of witchcraft, and it wasn't long before the girls, and then many other Salem residents, began accusing the other villagers of consorting with devils and casting spells. Old grudges and jealousies spilled out into the open, fueling the atmosphere of hysteria. The Massachusetts government and judicial system, which was heavily influenced, if not blinded, by religion, sprang into action. Within a few weeks, dozens of people were imprisoned on witchcraft charges, and when the "fever" had dissipated, nineteen people (and two dogs) were convicted and hanged for witchcraft. of the kingdom and common vengeance writes the law!" More than two centuries later, Arthur Miller wrote "The Crucible", a play based on those events in Salem which are considered one of the darkest moments in American history. The play is a device created and used by Miller to express his dislike of the McCarthy trials that took place in America in the 1950s. it meant you had to be a communist; Miller himself was put on trial during this period. Since fear and mass hysteria were the cause of the trials, accusations could be made by anyone, even if they were unfounded of the accusations did not come from reliable and indisputable people... middle of the paper... what happens in Salem: there is a glaring lack of trust and many underlying tensions that are only now fully emerging instead of bubbling under the surface. Elizabeth informs John of the activities taking place in Salem: Miller is using him as a device to tell the public what is going on. He is using exposition rather than flashbacks to prevent the tension of the scene from being lost and to allow the audience to empathize with the play's main protagonist, forging the bond between the character and the audience that will then be crucial to the maintenance of tension in the final act. .1. BooksMiller, Arthur, 1986, The Crucible, Reading, Penguin Books2. Websites http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/arthur_miller.html