Influence of The Cold War and on Literature

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The age of McCarthyism from 1945 through 1963 was a time of great tension and fear in American history. The emotions in society influenced the writing of that time, resulting in two of the most powerful plays ever written: Inherit the Wind and The Crucible. These stories reflect the attitudes and personas of what was prevalent in the world at the time they were written.

Inherit the Wind, written by Robert E. Lee and ___ Lawrence, has an array of characters that mirror the world during McCarthyism. The greatest similarity between Inherit the Wind and its historical context is evident in the character of Brady and Senator Joseph McCarthy’s personality. Joseph McCarthy exhibited a compelling style when orating speeches that came to define an era. According to historians, “...his current path was the path of righteousness. his delivery was emphatic and powerful. His fist pounded the pulpit, and his voice growled with vigilance.”("Joseph McCarthy as the Epithet of an Era" ) The character of Brady showcases the charisma and force McCarthy used with his words to make people listen to his opinions. In the play, Brady seems to translate Miller’s impression of McCarthy. When about to make a speech, Brady’s charismatic quality is described to the reader, “[Brady] seems to carry with him a built-in spotlight...[Brady] raises his hand. Obediently, the crowd falls to a hushed and anticipatory silence.” (Lawrence, Lee 19) Brady’s power as a public figure imitates Joseph McCarthy’s unequivocal force as an orator. McCarthy’s image in history is known to be one of immense power and manipulation of the masses’ emotions.

The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, include similarities to its historical context which lie in the attitude of Salem. Du...

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...morals of these plays is an era of tension and fear. Inherit the Wind’s character Brady reflects McCarthy’s power and charisma, while the town of Hillsboro reflects the atmosphere of suspicion surrounding one constantly looming topic. The Crucible’s parallels generally involve similar hysteria of contrasting societies. There is no doubt that both stories have been imprinted by their historical contexts.

Works Cited

"McCarthyism and "The Great Fear" Framing the Climate of Cold War America." Joseph McCarthy as the Epithet of an Era. n. page. Print. Secondary.

"Race for the Superbomb. The Korean War | PBS." People & Events. American Experience. Web. 18 Nov 2013. .

Schwartz, Dr. Fred. "On brainwashing and language." You Can Trust the Communists (to be Communists). Long Beach, CA: 1960. Primary.

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