... that he did not commit, finally breaks the cycle. The court collapses shortly afterward, undone by the refusal of its victims to propagate lies. Symbols Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts. The Witch Trials and McCarthyism There is little symbolism within  The Crucible, but, in its entirety, the play can be seen as symbolic of the paranoia about communism that pervaded America in ... the  1950s. Several parallels exist between the House Un-American Activities Committee ... ...

• Word Count: 4038
• Approx Pages: 16
• Grade Level: High School

... even though it is completely irrational for learned men such as Reverend Parris and Reverend Hale to believe these girls. The willingness of the Salemites to accuse each other of witchcraft stemmed from their hidden motives and agendas. The characters of Thomas Putnam, Reverend Parris and Abigail Williams display this vindictiveness and narcissistic behavior through Putnam's land-lust, Parris' ... that one man with seemingly pure intentions can do to a community and even a nation. It also shows the lengths to which people will go to protect themselves, even turning on their neighbors. In...

• Word Count: 2562
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School