Mccarthyism In The Crucible

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“Fear are nothing more than a state of mind” (Napoleon Hill). Fear causes you to think about what you are afraid of more often. The Salem Witch Trials is about people being accused of witchcraft. This took place in Massachusetts during the early 1690s. McCarthyism is also about people being accused but it is Communist not witchcraft and took place in the 1950s. The Crucible demonstrates the similarities between The Salem Witch Trials of the 1690s and McCarthyism of the 1950s because it shows how a society can be fueled by fear.
To begin with, both those accused in The Crucible and those accused during the McCarthy hearings were found guilty with little evidence. One example is when Rebecca Nurse was accused. “For murder, she’s charged… For …show more content…
For instance, Parris told Tituba what would happen to her if she did not confess. “Parris: ‘You will confess yourself or I will take you out and whip you to your death, Tituba’”(Miller 1260). Parris shows how unfair it is, if you do not confess you will die anyway. In addition, Communist was found at places in America. “The House Committee… seek out Communist in all areas of American life”(McCarthyism). This shows that all those who were communists were killed. Another example is when the government interrogated who ever they wanted. “In October 1947… an investigative committee of the U.S. House of representatives, during its probe of alleged communist influence in the American motion picture business” (Hollywood Ten). This shows that if you spoke against the government you were to be interrogated. The last example is when Miller tells us what happens when the people want to find out who is a communist or not. “Miller illustrated the ways in which authority can be abused and laws twisted to injure innocent people” (Forty Years of a Great American Play). This shows that anything is allowed when it comes to accusing people. The examples above show even if you are innocent you are still interrogated no matter
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