Irresponsibility is a major human fault. History shows the negative effects of irresponsibility on a society. The Crucible written by the late Arthur Miller demonstrates the harmful effects of irresponsibility on society. The Salem witch trials in The Crucible draw direct parallels to the McCarthyism of the 1950s. The irresponsibility displayed in Arthur Miller's The Crucible, written over six decades ago, bears many similarities to that of today 'today. The acts of irresponsibility exhibited throughout The Crucible by Reverend Parris, Abigail Williams, and Marry Warren are very similar to those of today. From the first act to the final act, we see the irresponsibility displayed by Reverend Parris. Reverend Parris's irresponsibility comes from fear for his reputation in the town. We see Parris helping to 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 them to God , this confession will surely condemn others in the public eye, and there is no doubt that they are. bound to Hell” (Acts 4 128). In recent times, we have witnessed the irresponsibility of many public officials in our society. In the mid-90s, President Bill Clinton lied that it was irresponsible to have an affair with intern Monica Lewinski. In the 2000s, President George W. Bush lied about being irresponsible about weapons of mass destruction to get the United States to go to war in Iraq. This irresponsible lie gave rise to a murderous war that claimed victims on both sides. Today we have New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and the bridge scandal. Last year, the George Washington Bridge was closed, resulting... middle of paper......). In conclusion, irresponsibility and its many forms are terrible for any society. There are many examples of the detrimental effects exhibited by many characters in Arthur Miller's The Crucible. The witch hunt in the play correlates with 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 today, irresponsible actions are very similar to today's irresponsible actions. Works Cited Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. Internet. January 22, 2014. “Victims of Lance Armstrong's heavy-handed tactics feel relief and vindication following US anti-doping agency report. » New York Daily News. Np, and Web. March 26, 2014. “When lies lead to wrongful convictions | WisconsinWatch.org. » When lies lead to wrongful convictions | WisconsinWatch.org. Np, and Web. March 25. 2014.