Arthur Miller introduces his text, discussing the hysteria surrounding witchcraft and the nature of the play’s characters.
Miller describes how his play encapsulates the “essential nature” of “one of the strangest and most awful chapters in human history.”
Miller outlines the allegorical purpose of his play to unite with the modern forms of ‘witch-hunts’ in McCarthy's America
“Salem was born out of a paradox” - Miller (overture)
Analysis
The overture establishes the context and provides a framework for the Salem witch hunts. Miller proposes that the repressive social order is the catalyst for the outpouring of emotion and the mob hysteria that seizes the townspeople.
Miller goes on to highlight the paradox of the Puritan theocracy – while the religion attempts to create unity, it instead stimulated greed and envy that had no appropriate outlet. Ultimately, the witch hunts become this outlet, demonstrating how oppressive governments and attempts to control beliefs and behaviours can have dire consequences.