McCarthyism: History in McCarthyism: History in Literature? Come Literature? Come onon, ,

Mr. Johnson!Mr. Johnson!

Arthur Miller’s Reasons for Arthur Miller’s Reasons for Writing Writing The CrucibleThe Crucible

What is McCarthyism?What is McCarthyism?

a movement leaders, such as a movement leaders, such as Senator Joseph McCarthy, started in Senator Joseph McCarthy, started in the late 1940s-1950s; also known as the late 1940s-1950s; also known as “The Second Red Scare” “The Second Red Scare”

Huh?Huh? During this time, Sen. McCarthy – During this time, Sen. McCarthy –

and others – created a “blacklist” of and others – created a “blacklist” of those people believed to be those people believed to be Communists; these people, including Communists; these people, including celebrities, often lost money, their celebrities, often lost money, their jobs, and their freedoms because of jobs, and their freedoms because of these false accusationsthese false accusations

……so why people be hatin’ on so why people be hatin’ on Communists?Communists?

Basically, we had the same philosophy as Basically, we had the same philosophy as Tina Fey’s Sarah Palin character in the Tina Fey’s Sarah Palin character in the SNL SNL sketch: “I can see Russia from my house!” sketch: “I can see Russia from my house!” Seriously, though, we really hated Russia. Seriously, though, we really hated Russia. We were in the middle of the We were in the middle of the Cold WarCold War, , which was not a war in the traditional which was not a war in the traditional sense, but more of a competition between sense, but more of a competition between the U.S. and what was then the U.S.S.R. – the U.S. and what was then the U.S.S.R. – from the 1940s until the early 1990s. (For from the 1940s until the early 1990s. (For the most part, it was an “arms race,” the most part, it was an “arms race,” meaning the countries were trying to meaning the countries were trying to outdo each other in both production and outdo each other in both production and quality of weapons.)quality of weapons.)

So what people did So what people did McCarthyism/”The Second Red McCarthyism/”The Second Red

Scare” affect?Scare” affect? This movement affected anyone, but This movement affected anyone, but

especially entertainers such as especially entertainers such as actors, screenwriters, singers, actors, screenwriters, singers, playwrights, musicians, and authors. playwrights, musicians, and authors. Who was responsible? – Joseph Who was responsible? – Joseph McCarthy and his McCarthy and his House Un-House Un-American Activities Committee American Activities Committee (HUAC).(HUAC).

HUACHUAC The HUAC was a group formed specifically The HUAC was a group formed specifically

to investigate any cases of alleged to investigate any cases of alleged Communism. This group investigated Communism. This group investigated anyone who seemed “unusual” or “outside anyone who seemed “unusual” or “outside of the norm,” anyone who questioned of the norm,” anyone who questioned society or who took risks. Another famous society or who took risks. Another famous HUAC member was J. Edgar Hoover. HUAC member was J. Edgar Hoover.

Mr. Johnson, we’re in English Mr. Johnson, we’re in English class…seriously?!class…seriously?!

Yes, seriously. This dude (Arthur Miller):Yes, seriously. This dude (Arthur Miller): wrote one of the mostwrote one of the most influential plays in influential plays in American literature,American literature, The CrucibleThe Crucible, which , which was written about “The was written about “The Salem Witch Trials,” but it Salem Witch Trials,” but it was actually a thinlywas actually a thinly disguised play about McCarthyism. disguised play about McCarthyism. You all have the You all have the privilegeprivilege (yes, (yes, privilegeprivilege) of reading this play in my ) of reading this play in my class this year. class this year.

Why Miller Cared So Much:Why Miller Cared So Much:

First, Arthur Miller was claiming his own First, Arthur Miller was claiming his own political statement about the times.political statement about the times.

Even more importantly, Miller was Even more importantly, Miller was retaliating against the government for retaliating against the government for their actions against him. Yes, McCarthy their actions against him. Yes, McCarthy and his gang had even accused lil’ man and his gang had even accused lil’ man Miller of being a COMMUNIST (gasp)!Miller of being a COMMUNIST (gasp)!

Miller Made His Mark:Miller Made His Mark:

See, our man Artie had a bone to pick with the See, our man Artie had a bone to pick with the guys who accused him of Communism simply guys who accused him of Communism simply because of his play because of his play Death of a SalesmanDeath of a Salesman. Critics . Critics accused him of being too morbid and referred to accused him of being too morbid and referred to the character Willy as “simply a nut”. In fact, the character Willy as “simply a nut”. In fact, Columbia studios released another play and Columbia studios released another play and movie, movie, Life of a SalesmanLife of a Salesman, which portrayed the , which portrayed the

play “as it should be.”play “as it should be.”

The result was The result was The CrucibleThe Crucible, the play , the play later made into several different later made into several different movie versions, which became a movie versions, which became a huge success.huge success.

Celebrities Accused of Celebrities Accused of McCarthyismMcCarthyism

Lucille Ball, actressLucille Ball, actress

Richard N. Wright, authorRichard N. Wright, author

Charlie Chaplin, comedian and Charlie Chaplin, comedian and entertainerentertainer

Lena Horne, singer/actressLena Horne, singer/actress

Pete Seeger, folk singerPete Seeger, folk singer

Langston Hughes, authorLangston Hughes, author

Aaron Copland, composerAaron Copland, composer

……and many more….and many more….

“ “The Hollywood Ten:”The Hollywood Ten:”

Works CitedWorks Cited

““AmSt.2010.” AmSt.2010.” University of Colorado at BoulderUniversity of Colorado at Boulder. . 2002. U of C at B. 24 September 2008. 2002. U of C at B. 24 September 2008. <http://www.colorado.edu/AmStudies/lewis/2010/<http://www.colorado.edu/AmStudies/lewis/2010/mccarthy.htm>mccarthy.htm>

Buhle, Paul, and David Wagner. Buhle, Paul, and David Wagner. Hide in Plain Sight: Hide in Plain Sight: The Hollywood Blacklistees in Film and Television, The Hollywood Blacklistees in Film and Television, 1950-20021950-2002. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003.. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003.

Miller, Arthur. “Are You Now or Were You Ever?”Miller, Arthur. “Are You Now or Were You Ever?” The Guardian/The ObserverThe Guardian/The Observer. 13 July 2000. 24 . 13 July 2000. 24

September 2008. September 2008. <http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/mille<http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/miller-mccarthyism.html>r-mccarthyism.html>