Unlike Arthur Miller’s The Crucible , which uses the witch trials as an allegory for McCarthyism, Gaskell’s approach is more intimate and domestic. It feels less like a political play and more like a psychological case study.
Lois’s tragedy is that her "crimes" are simply being different and being kind. Her English accent, her unfamiliarity with Puritan customs, and her beauty make her an easy target. lois the witch pdf