The development of McCarthyism in the 1950s due to growing fears of Communism led to reckless accusations of disloyalty and betrayal to the United States. The Salem witch trials in 1692 were hearings and false accusations based on the views of McCarthyism. Arthur Miller's knowledge of these historical events greatly influenced his writing of The Crucible. He incorporated the careless accusations that Joseph McCarthy was very fond of and gave these characteristics to a group of Salem girls. These girls created something in their city that was extremely similar to the Second Red Scare, the result of growing communist accusations, which led to the deaths of innocent men and women. Among those who knew the truth about the allegations in Salem was John Proctor, a farmer who lived just outside Salem. The author incorporates the idea of ​​McCarthyism in Salem to have a bearing on history and to account for such corruption. The panic induced by the Salem witch trials, reminiscent of that caused by McCarthyism in the Red Scare, forces John Proctor to reevaluate his beliefs. In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, John Proctor's characteristics and morals create an internal conflict between his honesty and his religious affiliation which leads to a moral dilemma between keeping his name and his confession of witchcraft, which ultimately leads to his physical and metaphorical death as a character. John Proctor's devotion to his religion gives him the choice between doing what is right or saving his life by succumbing to the pressure to confess falsely. Many issues arise, including his alleged affair with Abigail Williams. John is walking home when Abigail stops him in the woods and tries to seduce him....... middle of paper ...... or the church for all to see. When Danforth asks Proctor to give an explanation for not wanting to hand over the document, he shouts, “Because it's my name! Because I can't have another one in my life! Because I lie and submit to lies!... How can I live without my name? I gave you my soul; leave me my name!” (1333). Proctor continues to ponder his decision to admit himself to witchcraft that would free him from hanging. This reflects his aspiration not to dishonor his peers who died for crimes they did not commit. Proctor wouldn't be able to live with himself knowing that others died while he lied to save his life. Proctor wants to maintain his reputation as an honest man in the town of Salem, ultimately demonstrating his obsession with the purity of his name. His decision to honor the deceased and die an honest man surpassed his ability to lie.