Myths and Heroes

Myths and Heroes

I’m going to talk about the notion of myths and heroes. First, I would like to give a quick definition of what is a myth. A myth is a popular story. It originally explained the origins of humanity. It delivers a message about human condition and gives elements about the collective identity of a social group. So, we may answer this question: How do myths and heroes influence the American society? First, I will focus on the witches of Salem, during the 17th century, and then on the witch-hunting during the Cold War in America. I will illustrate my answers with examples and documents we studied in class.

In 1692, a group of girls fell sick in the small community of Salem, Massachusetts, so the physicians, unable to explain the convulsions and the blasphemous screams, conclude that the girls were under the influence of the Devil. This led to a Puritan inquisition. Two hundred people were accused of practicing witchcraft and Twenty were hanged. Indeed, when a woman was suspected of being a witch, she was drowned with a dunking stool. If she sank, she was not a witch. But if she floated, she was a witch. Women who survived were usually be burnt or hanged. In the film still from The Crucible based on Arthur Miller’s play about the Salem witch trials of 1692, we can see a woman wearing a white cap and looking up. A group of people are pointing fingers at her. The is probably accused of being a witch. The scene must take place in a courthouse. The photo is a high angle shot, so the woman looks inferior and powerless.

These documents show that ignorance and superstitions can lead to a witch-hunt and consequently influence the American society.

Three centuries later, during the Cold War, the American government feared communist strangers, thinking they would infiltrate the country. Senator Joseph McCarthy targeted people were linked with communism and he triggered the Red Scare movement. In the 20th century, the notion of witches changed: a witch is more someone who can be a threat to the government. The Red Scare, also named McCarthyism was a witch-hunt against people who were alleged communist. Many of the people McCarthy suspected of having communist ties were Hollywood actors, screenwriters and directors. The Hollywood industry had a great influence on millions of people in the USA and worldwide. Communists were said to propagate subversive messages in their movies. So, the American government and the FBI feared they might use it to spread propaganda throughout the world. That’s why they targeted Hollywood.

This shows that fear can lead to a witch-hunt and influence the American society during a long period.

To sum up, the Salem witch trials judged in a courthouse people who were suspected of practicing witchcraft. Senator McCarty judged people who were suspected of being communists. The difference between the 17th and the 20th century is not only 300 years, but also that the target were people suspected of being a witch in 1692 and people alleged communists during the Cold War. This study shows indeed that myths and heroes can influence the American society.

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