Arthur Miller, an established playwright known for creating works of prolific social commentary, wrote The Crucible in 1952. The play fictionally portrays the 1692 Salem witch trials, in which dozens of young girls go on a rampage of witchcraft accusations on the pretense of being the voice of God, persecuting countless innocents and sentencing a few poor souls to death. In Miller's mind the witch trials bore strong resemblance to the McCarthy trials of his own day. The McCarthy trials entailed thousands of people, particularly liberals and members of Hollywood, being unfairly accused and tried for the "crime" of Communism. Many people experienced irreversible damage to their careers. Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible as a testament to the similarities between both incidents of deceit and corruption.

Perhaps the most horrifying aspect of both trials is formed in the brazen, callous actions of Joseph McCarthy and the young lady who serves...