Influence of The Cold War and on Literature - 992 Words

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†¦show more content†¦Since this particular argument is something the town believes in, Brady is an automatic hero, and Cates becomes a preordained villain. Hornbeck’s character in Inherit the Wind was used to portray another side of McCarthyism; the role of the media and the use of propaganda. He is a metaphor for the entire newspaper industry during this time period. When explaining to Rachel his style of writing he crows, â€Å"I do hateful things, for which people love me,/And lovable things for which they hate me./I am a friend of enemies, the enemy of friends; I am admired for my detestability...† (Lawrence and Lee 33) An important event in the history of the Cold War was the Korean War. In history, it was fought between North and South Korea, and each side was supported by one of the major combatants in the Cold War. The North was supported by the Soviet Union, and the South was supported by the United States through the United Nations. (Race for the Superbomb. The Korean War | PBS) This â€Å"proxy war† was a way for the two sides of the Cold War to meet on the battlefield indirectly. The relationship between Drummond and Brady is an allegory to what happened during the Korean War. Cate s’ dilemma was a way for Drummond and Brady to fight against each other, but in an indirect fashion. They fought each other by fighting someone else’ battles for them. It was a way for them to collide without personal damage. Influences of this themeShow MoreRelatedThe Spy and The Bravo785 Words   |  3 PagesSpy fiction is defined as a genre of literature that focuses on the activities of spies and the world of espionage. The genre dates back to the mid to late 19th century. An early example of a spy novel is by an American novelist James Fenimore Cooper; The spy (1821) and The Bravo (1831). 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