Character Analysis: The Red Scare

Imagine living in a world where everyone believes lies and condemns people for the lies. This is what it is like if you live in the United States during the Red Scare. The Red Scare is a time period in which Americans were afraid of communist spies infiltrating their method of capitalism. These claims, rumors, are made primarily by Joseph McCarthy. His accusations began to accuse well known people and destroy their reputations. Brinkley states, “Hiss, who was now out of government, denied the charges, and most people seemed to believe him. But Chambers produced evidence that damaged Hiss’ claim of innocence” (Brinkley). The person in question, Alger Hiss, is a well known former politician at this time. Hiss denies the charges and the general population believe him. Nonetheless, the powerful people do not as …show more content…
This is especially true in that Goody Nurse is accused. Her husband, Francis, explains, “For murder, she’s charged! (mockingly quoting the warrant) “For the marvelous and supernatural murder of Goody Putnam’s babies.” What am I to do, Mr. Hale?” (I, i, 893-897). Mrs. Nurse is very respected within the community, but the Nurse’s had a lot of land. This made many people in the village envy them. As a result, she is accused and ends up in the prison of the town. Reverend Hale comes to the prison to convince the prisoners to lie and confess in order to save their lives. John Proctor begins to give in, but when he asks Goody Nurse she refuses. Goody Nurse replies, “Why, it is a lie, it is a lie; how may I damn myself? I cannot, I cannot” (IV, i, 776-777). She refuses to admit a lie, so she is going to die. Goody Nurse is being a good and honorable Puritan woman by not lying. By doing this she is also giving up her life for the truth. However, no one will know that she is telling the truth except for very few. This rumor effectively ruins a woman’s reputation and her