Miller wrote The Crucible as a critique of McCarthyism, yet he distanced his narrative by using the Salem trials as the setting for the...

The premise of the question is an interesting one. I have
to disagree with it though because I don't think that Miller's use of Salem is a
distanced critique of McCarthyism.  Rather, I think that both are very analgous to one
another and Miller knows this.  Both McCarthy and Salem both featured "legal"
proceedings that were not authentic nor transparent, filled with false and forced
"confessions" and replete with denials of personal freedom or institutional checks.  At
the same time, both sets of proceedings were meant to deny the fundamental problems in
both social orders.  The convenience of accusing people of being witches or Communists
prevented a more indepth and reflective examination of how social practices need to be
rethought and reconfigured.  In the reactionary measures of both proceedings, Miller is
arguing that there is little substitute for honest reflection and rumination.  In both
settings, Miller asserts a belief from Justice Brandeis in that "sunlight is the best
disinfectant."  Finally, Miller is able to suggest that both sets of justice
miscarriages are at the hands of charismatic and self serving individuals.  Abigail and
McCarthy both are very skilled at rallying public interest in agendas that are highly
devoted to self interest.  In these details, I don't see Miller's use of Salem as a
distance for his criticism of McCarthy and HUAC.