The Uses of Fear in Society
Fear makes societies act in a chaotic manner. They will do anything to save themselves and the ones they love no matter the consequence. Civilians will cling to any chance of salvation when in despair. In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, Governor Danforth uses fear to scare innocent civilians into pleading guilty to witchcraft. Jonathan Edwards’ sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” includes gruesome details clarifying what would happen if the sinners didn’t live righteously. Thomas Paine has a series of pamphlets, called The Crisis, and one of the pamphlets is dedicated to helping the colonial men to get over their fear of destruction. In these pieces of literature, fear begins like any fire, easy to control in the beginning, but difficult to stop once out of hand.
Jonathon Edwards’ wrote, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” a perfect example of using fear to manipulate others. Edwards, a Christian preacher, uses gory details about the graphic Hell waiting for his congregation. He addresses everyone, even those living …show more content…
The colonists in America wanted freedom from Britain, but many were too afraid to go up against the British army. Paine goes on saying that they could not let Britain have this much power and “for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.” He emphasizes that there would be “slavery without hope” and the colonists would have no human right. He tells them to either fight for their freedom or give in and become slaves. Expounding, “It matters not where you live, or what rank of like you hold, the evil or the blessing will reach you all. The far and near, the home counties and the back, the rich and the poor will suffer or rejoice alike,” Paine says that Britain will not discriminate with who they choose to enslave. Social status has no say and they will either succeed or realize
Fear makes societies act in a chaotic manner. They will do anything to save themselves and the ones they love no matter the consequence. Civilians will cling to any chance of salvation when in despair. In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, Governor Danforth uses fear to scare innocent civilians into pleading guilty to witchcraft. Jonathan Edwards’ sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” includes gruesome details clarifying what would happen if the sinners didn’t live righteously. Thomas Paine has a series of pamphlets, called The Crisis, and one of the pamphlets is dedicated to helping the colonial men to get over their fear of destruction. In these pieces of literature, fear begins like any fire, easy to control in the beginning, but difficult to stop once out of hand.
Jonathon Edwards’ wrote, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” a perfect example of using fear to manipulate others. Edwards, a Christian preacher, uses gory details about the graphic Hell waiting for his congregation. He addresses everyone, even those living …show more content…
The colonists in America wanted freedom from Britain, but many were too afraid to go up against the British army. Paine goes on saying that they could not let Britain have this much power and “for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.” He emphasizes that there would be “slavery without hope” and the colonists would have no human right. He tells them to either fight for their freedom or give in and become slaves. Expounding, “It matters not where you live, or what rank of like you hold, the evil or the blessing will reach you all. The far and near, the home counties and the back, the rich and the poor will suffer or rejoice alike,” Paine says that Britain will not discriminate with who they choose to enslave. Social status has no say and they will either succeed or realize