Homeless Essay -- essays research papers

â€Å"The climate is by all accounts getting somewhat chillier around here lately† Charlie Houser broadcasts. â€Å" Living destitute isn't so terrible as long as you comprehend that you are destitute and make it your consistently life.† infers Charlie. Charlie is a man that circumvents considering activities from everyday. On Vine Street in Coryville, a slim, short, dark man remains between two structures warding off another Cincinnati winter. He is rough looking with a scraggly facial hair. His skin is rough looking and intense. His outfit comprises of a tannish-earthy colored coat, which conflicts with his turquoise pants that are short long. Charlie wears a couple of dark, pup hound bit up shoes. It is winter and he is rearranging back and fourth to keep warm. His means are as hesitant as that of a mouse attempting to sneak something to eat. The fragrance of his alcoholic breath contaminates the cold breath originating from his lips. Alongside his breath, his eyes are spacey, watery, and red. It is clear he has had been drinking. His cleanliness is crumbled to the point of him possessing an aroma like a messy pair of socks, which had not been washed for a long while. The teeth he had left are splendid yellow and built up with plaque. His mouth is a bad dream for a dental specialist. It is an upsetti ng sight to see, yet numerous passes by fail to acknowledge him. Charlie says, â€Å" I attempted to discover business, however couldn't manage the cost of a hair style and bosses would not converse with me in view of my looks.† Charlie lives his days by simply traversing e...

Osteoarthritis, Exercise, and Swimming - 1100 Words

Osteoarthritis, Exercise, and Swimming (Essay Sample) Content: Osteoarthritis, Exercise, and SwimmingAuthor:Course:Date:Part 1As people get older, the central arteries in the body get stiffer since their elasticity significantly lessens. Consequently, this occurrence increases the bodys blood pressure and puts an individuals risk of developing cardiovascular disease plus other heart related conditions. One of the primary roles of the central arteries is to control the movement of blood which gets pumped out through the hearts left ventricle with each cardiac cycle. For a normal working cardiovascular system, the capacity to control the blood is very important because with each stroke, adequate amounts of blood can be ejected while at the same time maintaining low pressure on the ventricle. This function is best observable when a person is running, more blood is getting in and out of the heart through the ventricle but the central arteries control the blood movement by adjusting to the volumes of blood being ejected from the heart . Contrary to older arteries, young arteries are much more elastic and with each cardiac pulsation the arteries are able to expand and shrink back with relative ease. Over time, the central arteries become stiffer and as a result the heart has to work harder because the blood is not flowing in and out with ease. Consequently, this occurrence is a precursor to Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH) and adversely, LVH is a potent forecaster of unpleasant cardiovascular conditions. In fact, with LVH, the central arteries get stiff which results in more velocity as blood begins to travel through the arteries with alarming pressure. Part 2Physiologically speaking, the claim that the benefits which are generated from cycling and walking also come from swimming is quite unsubstantiated. In fact, swimming is mostly an upper body exercise and also, it is performed in a supine position in water as compared to cycling or walking on land. Nevertheless, the act of exercising in water exposes a perso n to several hemodynamic experiences which are quite difficult to experience when exercising on land. Such experiences include the relocation of blood volume to the central arteries, the diving reflex, and pressure response. Despite these benefits from swimming, medical research indicates that swimming regularly actually may not be as beneficial as most people think it is. When swimmers are compared to other athletes in endurance sports, research outcomes indicate that swimmers typically have high levels of blood pressure. Furthermore, when swimming is compared to walking or jogging, swimmers tend to experience a higher average arterial blood pressure when functioning at a similar heart rate level. In one of the latest intervention studies, swimming has actually been proven as harmful. The study employed elder women with normal blood pressure levels are actually put them through random tests which included walking and swimming programs. The outcomes indicated that the women actually benefited more from the walking and jogging compared to the swimming program. In fact, the researchers identified considerable increases in diastolic and systolic blood pressure in the swimming program which was contrary to the findings of the walking and jogging program which found no changes in blood pressure. Part 3Medical research indicates that individuals with osteoarthritis have higher risks of both morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, the biggest majority of morbidity and mortality cases in osteoarthritis emanate from cardiovascular disease. However, when observing the well known risk factors for cardiovascular disease it is still difficult to understand how osteoarthritis increases those risks. But other studies do indicate that the immediate impact of long term inflammation and the secondary effect of an inactive lifestyle on vascular health do play an intricate role in increasing those risk factors. Two of the most significant indicators of vascular impairment include t he stiffening of the central arteries and the endotheliums inability to perform optimally. The lack of stiffening in the central arteries indicates the arterys inability to expand and shrink back to normal in correlation to cardiac pulsation and settling down. The lessened compliance in the central arteries has been studied to significantly contribute to the pathophysiology concerning the increased development of cardiovascular disease in relation to age. As a result, this lessened compliance from the central arteries has been recognized as a risk factor all on its own. Recently, researchers have empirically demonstrated that the level of compliance in the central arteries is much worse in individuals with osteoarthritis. This feat was accomplished by comparing the osteoarthritis patients to healthy individuals. The difference in arterial compliance emanates from the inflammatory conditions experienced by the osteoarthritis patients. The primary role of the vascular endothelium is r eleasing mediators which aid blood pressure, vascular tone, and also in blood flow regulation. These mediators carry autocrine and paracrine effects which actually play a huge role in regulating these three processes. Subsequently, any dysfunction in the endothelium results in the development of cardiovascular disease and actually, the dysfunction can also play a huge role in the development of stiff central arteries. Moreover, the dysfunction of the endothel...

Analysis Of Waldo Emerson s Self Reliance - 1259 Words

Daneeshia Smith Ms. Archer B3 October 7, 2015 Self Reliance Analysis Waldo Emerson is genuinely the focal point of the American transcendental movement, setting out a large portion of its thoughts and qualities in his essay,that spoke to the extreme study in theory, religion, and writing. Emerson is the scholarly father of American Transcendentalism. Despite the fact that numerous different scholars would contribute, it was Emerson s addresses and distributed papers that would offer structure to this occasionally indistinct scope of thoughts. Emerson was a visionary mastermind whose ideals were received by others very quickly. Emerson s thoughts additionally influenced instructive hypothesis, philosophical and religious practice, and political level headed discussion after some time. Minister, Ralph Waldo Emerson in his essay â€Å"Self reliance† evokes his pursuers to take after their individual will rather than adjusting to social desires. He supports his claim by first utilizing strong metaphors to lead his followers to work with what they have as opposed to be dependent on others. The rhetor also utilized pathos and repetition to reinforce his theory that being invidious of someone is senseless in light of the fact that everybody has issues and nobody is impeccable. He believes that if everybody impersonates somebody, then society would be abandoning their own personal uniqueness. Keeping in mind the end goal of conveying his connotations in order to emphasize his ideaShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Ralph Waldo Emerson s Self Reliance921 Words   |  4 PagesRalph Waldo Emerson, a loyal follower of transcendentalism and writer of several debatable essays, supports the idea of one following his or her own conscience instead of the restrictions of societyà ¢â‚¬â„¢s mind. Transcendentalism, an American philosophical movement, takes place in the Nineteenth Century in which transcendentalists break free from the chains bounding them to the repetition of thought and action. In his essay, â€Å"Self-Reliance,† he asserts the importance of independent thinking, gives clearRead MoreTranscendentalism And Its Impact On Society1491 Words   |  6 Pagestranscendentalist was part of a movement during the 1820’s through 1830’s, ideology was widely changed for the people who believed in such a movement, this took place in the Eastern United States. Since this was such an early era, not many people could agree on the same two things, which is why so many ideas arose during the period of time within the United States. Two famous minds from this time period were none other than Ralph Waldo Emerson, who came first and later led to the teaching of HenryRead MoreRalph Waldo Emersons Connection To Transcendentalism1223 Words   |   5 PagesFor my historical event analysis, I have chosen to write about a Massachusetts-born American poet and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson who was part of the Transcendentalist movement which geared philosophical thinking that involved viewing women as equal. Philip F. Gura, Transcendentalism and Social Reform, History Now, assessed May 14, 2017, https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/first-age-reform/essays/transcendentalism-and-social-reform. Emerson s support for women s suffrage prompted himRead MoreRalph Waldo Emerson And Thoreau975 Words   |  4 Pagesmind; Thoreau and Emerson. Where Emerson and Thoreau were clear examples of Bright Romanticism exemplified by the inclusion of nature, a positive view of mankind, and a poetic style that broke traditional method. Ralph Waldo Emerson exemplified him being a clear examples of Bright Romanticism with his first inclusion of nature. An excerpt talking about the author about this manner can found in Cliff Notes under the title of â€Å"Emerson’s Nature Summary and Analysis written there aboutRead More`` Fate `` By Ralph Waldo Emerson1441 Words   |  6 PagesIn 1806 Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote in his book titled Nature a series of ideas that reflected the unconventional theories of a Transcendentalist. American Transcendentalism Web, Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803-1882, Virginia Commonwealth University, accessed June 9, 2017, http://archive.vcu.edu/english/engweb/transcendentalism/authors/emerson/. Transcendentalists connected philosophy, literacy, and nature to promote a conscience or intuition that made it possible for each person to connect to the spiritualRead MoreTranscendentalism : The And The Movement1027 Words   |  5 Pagesoccurred during the 1820s, and 1830s. List 5 major authors associated with the movement Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Explain what Transcendentalist believed about each of the following topics: Human Nature They were to live independently, all you need is your mind, knowledge is born with. They also believed that an institution isn t necessary, and it s better to live independently. Truth A system of thought based, on a belief of the essential unityRead MoreThe Emergence Of Self Concept1489 Words   |  6 PagesThe Emergence of Self Throughout our history the idea of self has developed and proved to be a dominant concept that Americans have come to understand. Not defined or found in lineage, religion, or history, the concept of self is defined by a collection of values. These values and principles are rooted in individualism, self-actualization, and self-reliance where people are able to fulfill their own destiny and believe in the promise that through ward work and determination life can be differentRead MoreThe Great Traversers By Ralph Waldo Emerson2868 Words   |  12 Pagesthree transcendental ideas, as presented by Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau) In this spirit I have just discovered Emerson. For forty years I have known something about him, of course—that he was a mystical philosopher; the apostle of transcendentalism in America†¦.† (Abbot, lines 9-10). From within the text of the author of this quote, it can be seen the shear praise and gratitude held for a man by the name of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson as mentioned in the quote, is considered to beRead MoreThe As A Social Structure1116 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members. The virtue in most request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs.† This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson is an excellent way to describe the society in the captivating novel by M.T. Anderson, entitled Feed. Based on the story, society adheres to a certain structure, and controls everything. When a person is part of a social structure, he no longer hasRead MoreIntellectual Freedom During The 20th Century1923 Words   |  8 Pagesphysically trapped, his intellectual liberation quickened his soul in order to be a major leader in the abolitionist movement. Historical Context Douglass’s narrative is credited as one of the best autobiographies produced by ex-slaves during the 1840’s and 1850’s (Matlack 15). This effectiveness was largely due to his eloquent way in which Douglass told his tale of slavery and liberation (Matlack 15). Throughout this time in history, aspects of life in American for black was controlled by white leaders

Recommendation Report on West Indies Yacht Club Resort

Purpose of the report The vacation industry in British Virgin Island (BVI) is developed into a profitable, but highly competitive market. One of the major players is the West Indies Yacht Club Resort (WIYCR), operates successfully since its inception in late 1980s. However, recently some problems became alarming, seriously affect the operating performance of the resort. Investigation is needed. I, Patrick Dowd, am honor to be the investigator. The purpose of this report is to discuss the problems in the resort, why they exist and the corresponding solutions. Problems in the resort WIYCR is troubled with internal problems that started to affect its normal operation. Expatriate turnover rate is nearly high enough to be†¦show more content†¦They are more caring, less aggressive, so they don ¡Ã‚ ¦t pay too much effort in working, pursing personal goals. They emphasizes on quality of life and leisure, differs greatly from the US ¡Ã‚ ¦s, which most expatriates come from. In addition, they are not willing to have additional workload by sacrificing time with family and friends. This is because they think working and with family cannot coexist. Therefore, generally they are lack of working motivation. Conclusion Because of the poor organizational structure and lack of understanding of the unique culture characters in BVI society, a lot of problems which I discussed above are created, but they can be solved. Recommendations Generally speaking, my recommendations focus on three main areas: developing effective management; building team spirit; and implementing effective performance evaluation. To build effective management, first we have to incorporate the existing management office in Chicago into the resort office in the site. By doing so, the resort will be more sensitive to the current market situation as the booking office is on the site. It can prevent over or under-booking to happen. Clear working instruction to local staff is also crucial to avoid any misunderstanding. The second area is building team spirit. Specifically, building trust between expatriates and local employee. Firstly, culture orientation courses should beShow MoreRelatedMarketing Mistakes and Successes175322 Words   |  702 Pageswhich formal issues and options can be debated for each case. New in some cases are Devil’s Advocate exercises in which students can argue against a proposed course of action to test its merits. A new pedagogical feature, based on a reviewer’s recommendation, appears at the end of the Analysis section: students are asked to make their own analysis, draw their own conclusions, and defend them, thereby having an opportunity to stretch themselves. In some cases where there is considerable updating

Phenominal Women free essay sample

This being my first event at GAP, was not too sure what to expect, but in the end was able to learn some things about the history of many significant female leaders in Americas history. DRP. Jacqueline spoke about the history of African American women and how hey were mistreated.One of the most phenomenal woman in female African American history was a lady named Ella Baker. The type of woman Ella, described to be by DRP. Jacqueline, was a sassy and bossy young lady. One of the reasons that led her to become an activist in the movement was her grandmother being whipped for not marrying a man her owner commanded her to. After this happened, Ella grew up and took on a major role in a group called the SYNC (The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) and later n chose to spend her time helping African American kids go to public schools in New York without discrimination. We will write a custom essay sample on Phenominal Women or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This really stood out to me because she was not afraid like many of the slaves but instead, was determined to make a difference for her grandmother and people. My first experience at a GAP academic event was very different than what I had expected it to be. Many things spoken during the lecture was a little confusing compared to how I thought it was going to be set up. The event itself was a good experience and I felt like I learned a few things from it I enjoyed seeing many other students participating in the same lecture as I did.The fact that I was able to see many of my friends also joining in extra credit activities was eve motivational for me academically. I felt like I was not the only one in school that really went out of my way to drive forty-five minutes for an hour long activity. This may not have honestly been my favorite topic to learn about, but the event itself has definitely sparked an interest and curiosity as to other academic events going on during campus hours eve ry week.

Primary School Teachers Attitudes towards Teaching and Testing Vocabulary

Introduction Research has been intensified on the teaching practice of teachers using English as a second language. The areas of research revolve from the teaching practice, writing, reading, and use of grammar, previous education background and the effectiveness of their teaching foundation (Alexander 2007).Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Primary School Teachers’ Attitudes towards Teaching and Testing Vocabulary specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More An analysis of primary school teachers’ attitudes and beliefs towards teaching and testing vocabulary in countries using English as their second language (ESL) have generated different attributes from scholars. According to Oppenheim, teachers using English as their second language have improved due to the level of improved research on their attitudes and beliefs (Oppenheim 2012). The augmented interest in the practices of the teachers matches the conduc tion of research on development of the teachers and their education on the diverse contexts in teaching languages. Theoretical Framework The research conducted in early 90s indicate that teaching have improved in the classrooms from improved teacher practices in matters concerning teaching practice (Resnick 2009). The learning of students in classrooms depends on the knowledge and learning practices acquired by the teachers. This point out that information is transferred from the teachers to their students and the occurrence of an error in teaching results to similar results from the students. The teachers’ beliefs and attitudes on teaching grammar and knowledge on grammar are the basic foundations on the second language teaching research (Pajares 2013). The positive attitudes and beliefs of the teachers results in better results in classrooms. The students depend on the information gathered in the classrooms; hence, their teachers offer positive attitudes and beliefs in thei r teaching to produce better and significant results.Advertising Looking for proposal on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The level of acquired knowledge from the teachers’ demonstrates equivalent teaching practice. The higher the level of knowledge acquired by the teachers from the countries and areas where English is a second language the higher their level of expertise and teaching practice in the classrooms (Resnick 2009). The teachers’ knowledge and modes of teaching should be dynamic to cater for the different levels of understanding of the students and to produce clarity in the classrooms. Various research practitioners have conducted research on the teaching practices and attitudes of teachers and their use of vocabulary. According to Arends, the research on teachers using English as a second language indicates that the teachers’ use of grammar is directly proportional to their knowledge and level of active participation on individual learning (Arends 2008). Significance of Research According to research, the basis of teaching grammar and vocabularies depend on individual determination. This illustrates that the use of English as the second language does not determine the level of teaching expertise (Watkins 2007). According to research conducted on the teachers having English as their first and second language, the teachers using English as a second language have an upper hand in the provision of better learning materials and information in learning. This shows that the teachers level of determination and need to learn and teach the English language ranks his/her level of expertise higher than that of the native speakers. The use of explicit and implicit knowledge on languages is evident in this factor (Watkins 2007). The native English speakers teach English with respect to their frequent use of the language. However, the non-native teachers make the use of their learnt knowledge in their teaching practice.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Primary School Teachers’ Attitudes towards Teaching and Testing Vocabulary specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This leads to the conclusion that the teaching practice of the teachers using English as a second language is better in vocabulary and grammar than the teaching of the natives. This is the result gathered from the use of implicit and explicit knowledge in teaching practice. Effects of Second Language The review of the research conducted by different research practitioners on the knowledge of the teachers using English as second language give implications of a broad and conceptual room for further research on the same topic. From the research conducted, the teaching practice, knowledge, components used during teaching and the relationship between the modes of teaching and need to capitalize on individual improvement on le arning are the basic requirements for a successful transformation of the teaching and learning fraternity. The teachers’ knowledge is usually analyzed and based on the outcome of their teaching practice (Pajares 2013). The higher the performance levels of the students the higher the teachers’ knowledge. The detailed research on the level of knowledge in teaching practice, reading, grammar and writing has resulted in determination amongst teachers. Vocabulary teaching and learning occupies a considerable location in the teaching and learning of languages. In conclusion, the use of vocabulary in second language teaching is essential but research indicates that it does not improve in the acquisition of the second language. However, proper vocabulary teaching using relevant and improved strategies leads to better teaching and learning methods. According to Nisbett, the modes of teaching depend on the teachers’ ability to acquire knowledge and the existing level of t heir knowledge (Nisbett 2011).Advertising Looking for proposal on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A clear understanding on the effects of the teachers’ knowledge on the students indicates that it is directly proportional to the students’ performance. The higher the teachers’ knowledge the higher the performance levels of the students. References Alexander, G 2007, New concept English, Longman, London. Arends, R 2008, Learning to Teach, McGraw-Hill, Boston. Nisbett, R 2011, Human inference: Strategies and shortcomings of social judgment, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ. Oppenheim, A 2012, Questionnaire design, interviewing and attitude measurement, Pinter, London. Pajares, MF 2013, Teachers’ beliefs and educational research: Cleaning up a messy construct, Review of Educational Research, vol. 62, no. 3, pp. 307-332. Resnick, LB 2009, Knowing, Learning, and Instruction, Lawrence Erlbaum, Hillsdale, N.J. Watkins, D 2007, Learning and teaching: A cross-cultural perspective, School Leadership Management, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 161-173. This proposal on Primary School Teachers’ Attitudes towards Teaching and Testing Vocabulary was written and submitted by user Andrea Flores to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

McCarthyism and The Crucible What to Know

McCarthyism and The Crucible What to Know SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips In studying The Crucible, you will inevitably be faced with questions about the play's connections to the "Red Scare" of the 1950s and the phenomenon known as McCarthyism. These connections are important because they demonstrate that The Crucible is not merely a (highly adapted) retelling of historical events but also an allegorical reference to the timelessness of certain central human flaws. In this article, I'll provide historical background on McCarthyism, tell you about Arthur Miller's personal involvement with the investigations of alleged communists in the 1950s, and explain how and why interpretations of The Crucible are so closely tied to the political attitudes and events of that decade. Background on McCarthyism Let’s start off with some background on who Joseph McCarthy was and what role he played in American politics. McCarthy was a Republican from Wisconsin who rose through the political ranks in the 1940s and was elected to the Senate in 1946. When it looked like he might not be reelected in 1950 after a few unremarkable years of service, he decided to try a new political strategy: targeting communist subversives. To see why this was even an option, you have to understand the political climate at the time. The 1950s marked the beginning of the Cold War, an era of great tension between the US and the communist USSR. Conservatives in the US feared that anyone who had any affiliation with the Communist Party was a potential threat to national security because they couldn’t be trusted to remain loyal to the US. McCarthy was able to use this fear to his advantage. On February 9, 1950, he claimed to possess a list of the names of 205 people in the US State Department who were members of the American Communist Party. The public, in the throes of a communist hysteria, demanded an investigation of these supposed agitators within the government. Though many of the people on McCarthy’s list were not, in fact, communists, he still managed to become the chairman of an organization called the Government Committee on Operations of the Senate, which proceeded to investigate "dissenters." These investigations went on for two years, during which the questioning spread to numerous government departments, and there was a continued proliferation of communist panic. This persecution of alleged subversives became known colloquially as "McCarthyism." McCarthy finally lost power in 1954 soon after proposing an investigation of the military to root out communists. President Eisenhower, who never liked McCarthy and had great respect for the military as a former commander, decided things had finally gone too far. He worked behind the scenes to discredit McCarthy. The Army sent inside information about McCarthy’s abuses of power to his critics, and a storm of bad PR finally led to the loss of his position as chairman of the investigatory committee. He died soon after in 1957, four years after the opening of The Crucible. Though the modern-day witch hunt philosophy carries his namesake, Joseph McCarthy was far from the only driving force behind the investigation of suspected communists during the Cold War. Another congressional group called the House UnAmerican Activities Committee played a similar and, some would argue, even more dramatic role at the same time. HUAC was a congressional committee originally established in 1938 with the primary goal of investigating communist and fascist organizations that had become active during the Great Depression. After World War II, as Cold War tensions mounted, HUAC became even more intent on investigating communist activities. HUAC gained significant power in tandem with McCarthy; in fact, HUAC provided inspiration for many of McCarthy’s tactics. Members of the committee were convinced that disloyal communists had managed to infiltrate the US government, educational system, and entertainment industry. Anyone deemed suspicious was issued a subpoena by the committee and subsequently questioned about their political activities and the activities of other potential subversives. People who refused to answer these questions or name any names were arrested for contempt of Congress and even sent to jail. Many were subsequently denied employment opportunities in their industries because they were universally "blacklisted" or shut out by employers who feared that hiring them would be a public relations nightmare. How did McCarthy come up with his catalog of commies? He asked everyone in Congress if he could borrow a pen. The ones who said yes were on the list. YOU WON'T TRICK ME WITH YOUR SHARING WAYS! I BUY MY OWN PENS BECAUSE I'M AN AMERICAN! Arthur Miller’s Connections to McCarthyism Arthur Miller had great distaste for McCarthy’s investigations in the early 1950s, and he claims to have written The Crucible in 1953 largely as a reaction to this tense political climate. He had become fascinated with the environment of paranoia and how it affected society as a whole. When he stumbled upon the story of the Salem witch trials, he finally came up with a way to express those themes on stage.The Crucible was also a reaction his personal disappointment at the decision of his friend, director Elia Kazan, to name some former colleagues as communists in 1952 in front of the House UnAmerican Activities Committee. Many believe The Crucible's high profile as a criticism of McCarthyism partially led to Miller’s own investigation by HUAC. In 1956, Miller was subpoenaed by HUAC after attempting to renew his passport before traveling to Belgium for the opening of The Crucible. He was suspected (not incorrectly) of possessing close ties to the American Communist Party. Miller did in fact write communist theater criticism and was a greater private supporter of communism than he portrayed himself to be at the time, but he never actually joined the party. When he appeared before HUAC, Miller refused to name anyone else who was involved in "subversive" political activities. To be fair, Miller had less at stake than many others who were called before HUAC to testify. Because he worked mainly in theater, he didn't have to worry as much about the effects Hollywood's unforgiving blacklist policy would have on his career. Miller was found in contempt of Congress for refusing to betray his peers, but the ruling was overturned two years later as HUAC lost power and relevance. Many professionals in the entertainment industry found themselves jobless in Hollywood after falling out of HUAC's good graces. The government's influence on movies at this time was much greater than it is today. The Crucible as an Allegory for McCarthyism It’s not difficult to see the parallels between McCarthyism and The Crucible's plot. The abandonment of reason in the face of hysteria is a clear common theme. Arthur Miller wrote an essay in 1996 entitled "Why I Wrote The Crucible: An Author’s Answer to Politics" that provides insight into his view of the play’s connections to the communist panic. Early in the essay, he relates the US State Department’s fear of China after the communist takeover to the fear of black magic in The Crucible. Miller writes, "There was magic all around; the politics of alien conspiracy soon dominated political discourse and bid fair to wipe out any other issue." Miller saw these sorts of irrational thought processes (weeding out officials associated with China in the US government with the goal of diminishing China’s power overall) as corollaries to the supernatural beliefs of his characters. As communist hysteria built, Miller was even more convinced that he wanted to write a play based on this form of collective insanity. He was especially fascinated by people who disagreed with the communist "witch hunt" but chose to keep their heads down and go along with it to avoid their own persecution. He writes, "But by 1950, when I began to think of writing about the hunt for Reds in America, I was motivated in some great part by the paralysis that had set in among many liberals who, despite their discomfort with the inquisitors' violations of civil rights, were fearful, and with good reason, of being identified as covert Communists if they should protest too strongly." This sort of behavior is one of the biggest contributors to the panic that grows throughout The Crucible. For example, John Proctor hesitates to expose Abigail as a fraud because he fears repercussions from the court, and Parris is eager to turn on others to preserve his reputation. In another relevant quote, Miller writes, "The Soviet plot was the hub of a great wheel of causation; the plot justified the crushing of all nuance, all the shadings that a realistic judgment of reality requires." In The Crucible, Miller translates this concept into the Satanic plot that the officials believe is at work in Salem. Danforth claims that there is "a moving plot to topple Christ in the country!" (pg. 91). Danforth also insists that "a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between" (pg. 87). Nuance cannot be tolerated because the people in charge feel that the stakes are too high. Communist infiltration of the US government and the Devil’s infiltration of Salem are both disastrous scenarios that must be prevented at all costs, even if it means throwing innocent people under the bus. Some people (including his former friend Elia Kazan) predictably complained that Miller’s analogy between the Salem witch trials and McCarthyism was bogus. After all, communists are real, and witches aren’t. Miller, however, says he viewed the analogy as perfectly sound. He argues that, in the 17th century, "the existence of witches was never questioned by the loftiest minds in Europe and America" because the Bible spoke of their existence. Witches were just as real to people in the 1690s as communists were to people in the 1950s. He adds, "The more I read into the Salem panic, the more it touched off corresponding ages of common experiences in the fifties: the old friend of a blacklisted person crossing the street to avoid being seen talking to him; the overnight conversions of former leftists into born-again patriots; and so on. Apparently, certain processes are universal." Miller was fascinated by what happened in Salem because of the parallels he could draw to the events of his life amidst the Red Scare. The Crucible has resonated across time because it expresses central truths about human nature. People will go to great lengths to avoid being ostracized by society, including, in many cases, betraying their true beliefs and selling out their friends. If patriotism is taken too far, it can transform itself into a hatred of "outsiders" rather than a love of political freedoms. This type of harmful attitude remains an issue in the US to this day. Why Does the Relationship Between McCarthyism and The Crucible Matter? Miller closes his essay by saying, "I am not sure what The Crucible is telling people now, but I know that its paranoid center is still pumping out the same darkly attractive warning that it did in the fifties." Though we like to think of ourselves more enlightened than the people who conducted the Salem witch trials, virtually the same course of events has occurred many times in more recent history. The fear of witches only seems archaic because most of society no longer holds serious beliefs in the supernatural. Today, scenarios like this can be even more insidious because "witch hunts" are conducted for types of people that really do exist. There were, of course, communists in the US in the 1950s, but the vast majority of them had no designs on overthrowing the US government or becoming Soviet spies. The danger lies in assuming that purely because someone holds a political or religious belief, he or she must pose a threat. People who are viewed as "other" continue to be persecuted out of fear and ignorance. The Crucible and McCarthyism can be compared to other modern forms of rumor, persecution, suspicion, and hysteria such as: The AIDS scare in the 80’s and 90’s Fear of terrorism in the past 15 or 20 years and how that’s affected US views and policies The Obama "birther" movement The many rumors perpetuated by gullible people on social media Afterword: Discussion Questions Now that you've read the article, you can try your hand at answering some of these discussion questions. I've included a few different types of questions on this topic that you might encounter in your English class: Discuss how Miller’s point of view influences the reading of the play. How did his own experiences shape his writing? Where does "fear" come from? Why, as a nation, do we fear others? Why, as individuals, do we fear others? Describe the political climate of the 1950s. Why did Senator McCarthy become a powerful figure? How did he influence politics in the fifties? As a socially conscious writer, Miller intended this play as a comment on McCarthyism. What are the parallels between the incidents Miller dramatizes and the acts of Senator McCarthy in the 1950s? Compare the events of the play to other historical or current events where innocent people are used as scapegoats. Is this a timeless cautionary tale? What's Next? Check out our full book summary of The Crucible so you can see for yourself how the play fits into its historical context. Need some quotes to fill out your essay for English class? Read this article for a list of all the most important quotes in the play, categorized by theme. To fully understand the messages of The Crucible, you need to get to know the main characters. We've written detailed character analyses for Abigail Williams, Rebecca Nurse, Mary Warren, John Proctor, and Giles Corey. Interested in what witchcraft and magic in America looked like in the years leading up to the publication of The Crucible? Learn who Aleister Crowley was and what influence he had on counter-culture with this article. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: