Similarities Between The Red Scare And The Crucible

Over 150 people (78% women) were accused of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692. The infamous Salem Witch Trials began in 1692, after a group of young girls in Salem, Massachusetts, claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused local women of witchcraft. A wave of hysteria spread throughout colonial Massachusetts and the painful legacy of the Salem witch trials would endure for centuries. The Crucible was inspired by the Red Scare, which were accounts of real treason and communism within the American government. Both The Crucible and the Red Scare represented the American government, and showed the actions the government took. In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, group hysteria shows that people in the town can play with others’ fears and cause many problems. …show more content…
Putnam accused others of witchcraft so he could buy their land and have it for himself. Giles Cory is a frequent plaintiff in court, having brought dozens of lawsuits, and he stands with John Proctor, an intelligent man who exposes the girls as frauds, challenging the girl’s accusations, believing Putnam is using charges of witchcraft to gain more land. In Act 3, Giles says, “I have evidence for the court! … Thomas Putnam is reaching out for land” (Miller 84). During the Red Scare, Joseph McCarthy, a young senator from Wisconsin, also took advantage on people’s fear for personal enrichment. McCarthy wanted to gain more fame so he could be more “well-known.” He did this by giving a speech that accused 205 people of being Communists. McCarthy scared people into paranoia, and became known to everyone, just like he