Discuss the emotions felt by the accused in the Salem Witch Trials and McCarthyism in The Crucible.

In both settings, there is a feeling of helplessness that
overcomes the individuals who are unfairly accused of so- called "crimes."  Miller does
an excellent job in bringing out the fundamental challenge in both Salem and the
McCarthyist setting:  The body that is meant to represent law and order is corrupt. 
Seeing government in this light, as one controlled by personal interests instead of
promoting the general welfare, is a part of the emotional dynamic that its victims
experience.  It becomes evident when the accusations are starting to be leveled that
Abigail is not concerned with witches, but with the advancement of her own personal
agenda.  Law and order is not as important as the consolidation of her own power, and
this becomes part of the experience of being accused.  Proctor fully understands why she
is doing what she is doing and feels compelled to speak out against this.  When events
have spiraled to a point of no return, Proctor feels passionate enough about protecting
his own name, regardless of the cost.  In much the same way, individuals who were
unfairly accused by the McCarthyist approach to the pursuit of what was told to be
"justice," was only designed to consolidate certain individuals' power at the cost of
others.  Miller's own stance against this was similar to Proctor's in that, one's name
and resistance against such forces can be the only possible answer in such a
predicament.