Examples Of Hysteria In The Crucible

In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, he shows a mass hysteria that took place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Although, the play is fiction, Miller based the plot of his play on the historical event, the Salem Witch Trials.According to the the Salem witch trials of the late 17th century, The Crucible explores a mass hysteria that its residents must go through because of the witchcraft accusations made by young girls and many other people of the region.These accusations, we learn further in the novel, are not true and are purely for the purpose to put the blame of someone's mistakes or wrongdoings to someone else. The accusers is constitutionally finding scapegoats to back up their culpability. He presents a situation of opposition where some characters are

Giles reveals himself as a hero when he sacrificed himself by refusing to plead guilty. He served as a ultimate public revolt against the witchcraft trials. Giles Corey’s immense strength of character is displayed in this scene when he neither confesses to, nor denies, the charges of witchcraft.
In this scene, Giles is testified by court officials to bring in evidence to prove that the Putnams had falsely accused a man as a witch in order to get his land. However, when the judge asks Corey to submit the name of the man who had heard Putnam’s conversation, Giles refuses to give the name to protect others while he would have to hang. In this scene, Giles Corey shouts out, “ You know well why no! He’ll lay in jail if I give his name… I will not give you no name. I mentioned wife’s name once and I’ll burn in hell long enough for that. I stand mute.” (44). Giles Corey is a true hero when he suffers a painful death for remaining silent. In addition, instead of giving the court the names, which is exactly what they wanted from him, thus freeing himself while causing the execution of another, Giles decides