What Are The Similarities Between The Crucible And Lord Of The Flies

The Crucible and Lord of the Flies are books about mob mentality and paranoia. Both books make it clear that if society feeds into the fear of the unknown, there will be a loss of innocence. Fear targets the innocent and naive. Therefore, innocence is lost and replaced with regret and guilt. A society governed by such strong emotions and no sense of logic is sure to fail. The Crucible gives a firsthand account of the Salem witch trials in 1692. Although the characters are fictional, the story is not. One thing that can be learned from The Crucible is that nobody is safe when it comes to paranoia. Paranoia is the first step into societal failure. For example, "I have seen too many frightful proofs in court—the Devil is alive in Salem, and

Paranoia has rendered Reverend Hale aggressive and that shows as he exemplifies the need to get rid of whoever is accused of witchcraft. It is clear how paranoia can lead to aggression toward others even when there is nothing to be aggressive about, and that aggression can generally lead to violence. This paranoia and unhealthy aggression is prominent in Lord of the Flies as well. As the boys set up their society and rules, it is clear that Ralph and Jack are the two best fit to be leaders. Ralph gets elected leader and Jack does not like that although he seems to be kind about it. Then, when talk of a beast that lurks on the island breaks out, so does paranoia. "Maybe there is a beast... maybe it's only us." (Golding 80). Simon advises them to fear themselves instead

Mob mentality is based on a sphere of influence. Because of this influence, people adopt behaviors, purchase goods, and follow trends. It shows how a person's viewpoint can be quickly swayed by others around them. The Crucible exhibits many situations in which Mob Mentality gets people hurt. A great example of this is when Judge Danforth says, “None of you is to be trusted when it comes to laying blame. We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment,” (Miller). Here Danforth refers to the mob that has formed blaming those who they believe are guilty of witchcraft. Danforth acknowledges the mob mentality and that none of them are in the right state of mind to be blaming anybody for witchcraft crimes. Danforth also expresses his skepticism about the sincerity or dependability of those around him. Danforth suggests that those involved are not trustworthy sources of knowledge or judgment when it comes to blaming or pointing fingers. They might have a reputation for dishonesty or a feeling of distrust towards one another, which makes him doubt their sincerity. There is no limit to age in mob mentality. On the other hand, When it comes to trusting the people who are present in the circumstance being recounted, Danforth emphasizes the need for caution and skepticism. It implies that any attempts to assign blame or conceal the truth will be exposed, and that the only