Irresponsibility is one of the greatest defects of human beings. History shows the negative effects that irresponsibility has on a society. The Crucible written by the late Arthur Miller demonstrates the negative effects of irresponsibility on society. The Salem Witch Trials in The Crucible draws direct parallels to the McCarthyism of the 1950s. The irresponsibility displayed in Arthur Miller's The Crucible, written more than sixty years ago, has numerous similarities to the present day. The acts of irresponsibility displayed in The Crucible by Reverend Parris, Abigail Williams, and Marry Warren are very similar to those today. From the opening act to the final act we see the irresponsibility displayed by Reverend Parris. Reverend Parris's irresponsibility arises from fear for his reputation in the city. We see Parris help ruin the reputations of others to save his own, namely John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse. This is demonstrated in the fourth act when Parris says, "Now that Mr. Hale is back, there is hope, I think - for if he brings even one of these to God, that confession will surely harm the others in the eyes of the public, and no doubts that they are." bound to Hell” (Act 4 128). In recent times we have seen the irresponsibility of many public officials in our society. In the mid-1990s, President Bill Clinton irresponsibly lied about his affair with intern Monica Lewinski. In the 2000s, then-President George W. Bush irresponsibly lied about weapons of mass destruction to push the United States into going to war in Iraq. This irresponsible lie has resulted in a deadly war with casualties on both sides. Today we have New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and the bridge scandal. Last year the George Washington Bridge was closed, which led to... half of paper...). In conclusion, irresponsibility and its many forms are terrible for any society. There are many examples of the negative effects shown by many characters in Arthur Miller's The Crucible. The witch hunt in the play is related to the movement started by Senator Joseph McCarthy known as McCarthyism in the 1950s. As in the play, many people's names were destroyed due to irresponsibility. And even nowadays irresponsible acts are very similar to irresponsible acts today. Works Cited Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. Network. Jan. 22, 2014. “Victims of Lance Armstrong's abusive tactics feel relief, vindication in wake of U.S. Anti-Doping Agency report.” New York Daily News. Np, nd Web. March 26, 2014. "When Lies Lead to Misconceptions | WisconsinWatch.org." When lies lead to wrong beliefs | WisconsinWatch.org. Np, nd Web. March 25. 2014.