Well, 'The Crucible' is rooted in the Salem witch hunt. The real events in Salem involved a community in chaos. These young girls' so - called fits and accusations created a wave of panic. The accused had little chance to defend themselves. Arthur Miller was inspired by this and crafted a story that not only told about the past but also made a statement about his present. In the play, the characters' fates reflect the real - life tragedies of those wrongly accused during the Salem witch trials.
The real story of 'The Crucible' is centered around the Salem witch trials. It was a time of great superstition and paranoia. People were extremely religious and any behavior that seemed out of the ordinary was suspect. The girls' accusations started a chain reaction. Miller used this historical event to draw parallels to the political climate of his own time. He wanted to show how power can be misused and how innocent people can become victims of mass hysteria.