Modern and Classic Examples of Chaos

The Crucible by Arthur Miller was set in one of the most chaotic times in American history but not the last. In the 1950's a similar haze of disarray fell on the people of America, in a period referred to as The Great American Red Scare. Like in The Crucible many were pressed and pressured to give names of the involved, whether it be witchcraft or "communist dealings". Even highly respected of both societies were tried for a mere mentioning of there name. Then those who wouldn't admit to the crime of which they were accused they were thrown in jail.

In The Crucible Tituba and the girls were so afraid that they will be punished severely by the church that they start to give the names of people they "supposedly" saw with the Devil. In actuality, they may not have even seen any of these people with the Devil. But, it is their fear of the church's retribution that persuades them to give these names. And because they give these names, chaos in the town breaks out and all of the people are called in for questioning about whether or not they have "made compacts with the Devil." During the Red Scare members or former of the American communist party were questioned and threatened til they gave names of other members and so forth, just as with the girls calling out names.

In the 1950's those who were merely refer to in a trial were brought in for questioning for un-American activities. The government was so afraid of the communist over throwing the government they took extreme measures to secure the nation. There was no such security, it sparked fear and caused chaos through the nation. Martha Corey and Rebecca Nurse were arrested after the girls cried out in The Crucible. These two women are highly respected throughout the town. However, it only took the mentioning of their names for Danforth to think badly about them, and even go so far as to arrest them. Many people know that these two women are church-going, up-right women. This depicts the fear and chaos that has broken out in Salem. People are being arrested that should not be.

In the second act of The Crucible, Giles refuses to give the name of the person who told him that Putnam is accusing people so that he can get their land. Danforth considers this contempt and arrests Giles, even though he did not do anything wrong. Danforth's fear starts to get the better of him. He and the