Crucible Context Essay – the most dangerous place in a conflict is between two

sides

Any party to a conflict who is unaligned to the protagonists will find themselves
at odds with one or both sides. This is due to their non-committal showing they
are strongly opposed to at least some of the ideology driving the combatants.
Such opposition at times of conflict is seen as close to if not actual treason or
betrayal by those driving the conflict. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, several
prominent figures in Salem society with little interest in the hysteria plaguing the
town due to the witchhunts, are targeted themselves, and their neutrality is
misinterpreted as being hostility towards the court or church, due to the
perception in those times as one being either “with or against” the church.

“There is no neutral ground in the universe; every square inch, every split
second, is claimed by God and counter-claimed by Satan”. C.S. Lewis’ words very
much reflected the mindset of Puritan society in the late 17th century, and also in
McCarthy’s America, a time similarly plagued by mass hysteria, confusion and a
perverted sense of loyalty and justice. One was either with God or against Him,
or for or against Communism.

A person or group’s neutrality is compromised by the imposition of power by one

of the sides of the conflict

Giles Corey refused to name an informant, pressed for “contempt of court”

(attempting to stay neutral cost him his life)

John Proctor

Margaret Chase-Smith’s appeal to the constitution in the document “A

Declaration of Conscience” lost her a place on the