Similarities Between The Crucible And The Reign Of Terror

Movements of righteous intent, such as the Salem witch trials and The Reign of Terror, typically end with innocent lives lost in vain in the drive to seek the truth. The play “The Crucible” written by Arthur Miller speaks of The Salem Witch Trials by giving a story line for the reader to comprehend the actions and emotions linked with the trials. In “The Crucible”, The Salem Witch Trials took place in 1692 and were a set of executions that were made on innocent people accused of having satanic practices of witch craft by young girls led by Abigail in an effort of revenge and jealousy. The French Revolution Reign of Terror, also known as “The Terror”, from 1793-1794 were the act of about 17,000 executions by a guillotine after rumors spread

In “The Crucible” Miller explains these periods during the trials as times of “Old scores [that] could be settled on a plane of Heavenly combat between Lucifer and the lord; Suspicions and Envy of the miserable toward the happy could and did burst out in the general revenge.” (Miller page 8), saying that the Trials were a way to sentence enemies out of revenge using religion as incentive. The rumors of “The Reign of Terror” began due to starvation around France making civilians all the more doubtful of their Royalty. Citizens rumors of the queen hiding grain ignited a fury among the French and began “The Woman’s March”. Similarities can be seen as The Terror was further fueled by those who had a desperate belief in Independence, and the separation of church and state, hence motive behind the executions of lading figures who appeared to have tie to the monarchy. The members of “The committee of public safety” assumed dominance over France, as Robespierre was one of the main theorist of the corruption of governmental food distribution just as the Trials in 1692. A visible distinction in between these events are the scale of the rumors and severity of bloodshed. While Salem in “The Crucible” was religion based and morally centered, The Terror was based on logistics and overthrowing the tyrannical

The Terror was aimed toward the supremacies of France, as the country wished to overthrow them, but in many accounts innocent people were also guillotined. After the execution of King Louis XIV, Gangs started roaming Paris and began accusing civilians who seemed to ally with the government, or that looked like they were against their new republic of treason leading to their deaths. These irrational forms of killing are also prominent in “The Crucible” as they would accuse people based on their behavior or knowledge, an example of this is on page 58 of “The Crucible” where Judge Hathorne uses the Bible as a form of evidence, saying “Recite us your commandments” and when people were unable they were seen as guilty of witch craft. Soon people took differences as a form of sin just as when Martha Giles, partaking in reading, is suspected of witch craft. The French executions had very little emotional tie, While the Witch trials in “The Crucible” were a societal problem in the knitted community of Salem. In the comparison of a revolutionary bloodshed, The Trials had sentimental background attached to those