While conducting research on the Salem witch trials, playwright Arthur Miller noted disturbing parallels between the religious zeal of 17th century Puritan New England and the anti communist fervor of mid 1950s America.

In Miller's era of political persecution, Senator Joseph McCarthy sought to identify and ruin communist sympathizers. In 17th century Salem, a so-called divine court sought to identify and kill witches.

In both cases, fearful judges encouraged the accused to save themselves by confessing. Suspects were threatened with ruin unless they named others who might be guilty. In the end, a fever pitch of paranoia drove neighbors to turn on neighbors, friends to turn on friends ... even innocents turned on themselves in the name of survival.