Final answer:
During the Second Red Scare, individuals like Finn and Philby, if they were perceived as communists or socialists, could have been metaphorically 'attacked' by government agents or public sentiment. This period was marked by widespread fear of communism, leading to baseless accusations and a suppression of civil liberties.
Step-by-step explanation:
Finn and Philby are likely fictional characters, however, if their narrative is set during the time of the Second Red Scare, they could have been 'attacked' in a metaphorical sense by government agents or public sentiment driven by fear of communism and espionage. The Second Red Scare was a period of intense fear of communism in the United States after World War II, where many Americans were concerned about the presence and impact of communists within the country. This era saw the rise of McCarthyism, with high-profile espionage cases like that of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, and fears fueled by incidents like Klaus Fuchs' confession to passing nuclear secrets to the Soviets.
Government agencies, like the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover, were on high alert, leading to widespread suspicion and often baseless accusations. As the Cold War intensified, this paranoia extended to anyone suspected of 'un-American' activities, including socialists and anarchists, culminating in the infamous Palmer Raids and later the McCarthy hearings. Private citizens and government officials alike participated in this frenzy, which had a chilling effect on civil liberties and free discourse.