Final answer:
Option (1), Arthur Miller's The Crucible is a significant metaphor for the Red Scare and McCarthyism, critiquing mass hysteria and false accusations through historical parallels.
Step-by-step explanation:
Arthur Miller's The Crucible is historically significant for its deep metaphorical connection to the Red Scare and McCarthyism, making it a wise creation as it provides a critical reflection on mass hysteria and the consequences of false accusations. Miller's portrayal of events in Salem, compared to the tactics of Senator Joseph McCarthy, invites readers to question the reliability of accusations in an environment driven by fear.
The Crucible debuted at a critical time in American history, paralleling the decline of the Red Scare as credible evidence faltered and public support waned. The play served as an accessible medium for Miller to democratize theatre and engage the American public in a political conversation, much like his contemporaries.
By dramatizing ordinary characters who are fractured by the turmoil of their lives and society, Miller reinforces the idea that understanding and empathy are crucial, especially when faced with collective paranoia. Through the example of Edward Murrow's journalistic efforts and Miller's artistry, it is demonstrated how influential figures confronted the era's hysteria with subtlety, despite the risk of censorship and investigation, reflecting on the fine line between dissent and the perception of treachery.
In drawing parallels with the Salem Witch Trials, Miller emphasizes the dire outcomes of paranoia, echoing Increase Mather's wise cautionary sentiment that it's better for ten witches to go free than for one innocent person to be condemned. Historical events of the late 17th century, such as the mass hysteria ending with the accusations of well-connected individuals and pressure from the educated elite, resonate with the mid-20th century fear-mongering that was ultimately challenged by rational thought and skepticism.