Amidst fear’s suffocating embrace, each moment feels like each heartbeat is a thunder that will last an eternity. It spreads to others until the entire community thinks irrationally, only yearning for someone to bring guidance and certainty. In Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible,” the depiction of the Salem witch trials offers a compelling parallel to the hysteria and paranoia fueled by the Communist Red Scare of the 1950s. During the Red Scare, fear of communism led government officials to seek out suspected communists, creating conflict among citizens. Resulting in infringement of fundamental rights granted by law and constitution. Both historical contexts reveal fear can be manipulated and blame can be pointed at others. As well as violating an …show more content…
This could’ve ended the mass hysteria because if alone Abigail was easily going to confess that everything was made up and she caused all of it, especially since he had a biting way with hypocrites. Furthermore, another respected individual in the community of Salem was Judge Danforth. Judge Danforth was responsible for overseeing the proceedings and making crucial decisions. He had much power over the town, and many followed in his footsteps, as said, “Enter Governor Danforth, and, behind him, Ezekiel Cheever and Parris. In his appearance, silence fails. Danforth is a grave man in his sixties, of some humor and sophistication that does, however, interfere with an exact loyalty to his position or his cause.” The main reason why everyone continued to be killed, and everyone continued to believe the lies, was that he chose a path that deemed everyone a witch. Had he chosen to wield his power with wisdom, he could have ended the mass hysteria demanding that not enough be given to mark them as witches. By exercising his authority, he would bring certainty and stop the fear in the community, ending the mass