"There is a clear parallel between the events in Salem in 1692 and the political investigation of Senator McCarthy in 1950's America. What are the particular Characteristic of the play which make its story timeless and universal?" .
Miller shows his integrity by this quote. The court system in America was failing in its duty to safeguard the system of justice by allowing McCarthy to ride rough shod over all authority. In this respect Miller's determination to make a stand against corruption is epitomized by several characters in the play, for example John Proctor who shows him self to be a man of good character and an upstanding citizen who is looked up to by the other inhabitants. Although he had an affair with a young girl in his employ, Abigail Williams, he felt very guilty about it and tried to make amends by ignoring her and trying to be a good and loyal puritan husband. So he attempted, like Miller to be true to himself, and ultimately to his friends. He refused to lie about seeing Rebecca Nurse with the devil, and he also refused to admit to witchcraft, which led to his being hanged.
Miller was dragged into the spot light by the House Un-American Activities Committee, he was put in the exact same place were John Proctor had been in "The Crucible". Miller was asked to give a list of name of people who he had seen at a communist meeting ten years before. .
Another character who tried to live by moral standards was Giles Corey.
He inadvertently gives out information that is later used against his wife. He accuses Thomas Putnam of using Ruth, his daughter to condemn people for his personal gain. Realising that Putnam will be arrested, he refuses to reveal it feeling that he has done too much damage already. He is arrested for contempt of court. He is eventually pressed to death when he refuses to enter a plea (pleasing guilty or being convicted would mean that all his land would be confiscated by the court, leaving his sons with no inheritance).
