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Elements Of Hysteria In The Crucible

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In the Crucible, fear, hysteria, and revenge are the most important elements where fear spreads around the whole village. Hysteria involving witchcraft would end up with many innocent people killed. With many false accusations of a long held grudge with another villager would kill others they would have problems with. Revenge would later involve the slaughter of another bad blood of another villager. “God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore’s vengeance, and you must see it” (Act 3). Clearly Abigail's intentions is to get revenge back on Elizabeth Proctor and get her out of sight so she can at least win John Proctor back. John Proctor here explains the ideas of Abigail's action and goal to get the sensuality …show more content…

"In an ordinary crime, how does one defend the accused? One calls up witnesses to prove his innocence. But witchcraft is, ipso facto, on its face and by its nature, an invisible crime, is it not? Therefore, who may possibly be a witness to it? The witch and the victim. None other. Now we cannot hope the witch will accuse herself; granted? Therefore, we must rely upon her victims—and they do testify, the children certainly do testify. As for the witches, none will deny that we are most eager for all their confessions. Therefore, what is left for a lawyer to bring out? I think I have made my point. Have I not?" (Danforth, Act 3). Danforth shows the terrible effect in the Salem witch trials. This leaves out whether the people are trustworthy or telling the truth. He believes that children nor women would lie to him, but it somewhat fears him about the fear of witchcraft in a puritan society. In the Crucible, hysteria can engage by tearing up the whole community. This enables people to accuse others for the grudges held between them saying that they would take part in witchcraft or have any actions against the devil.“There is a misty plot afoot so subtle we should be criminal to cling to old respects and ancient friendships. I have seen too many frightful proofs in court - the Devil is alive in Salem, and we dare not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points!” (Hale, Act 2) Hale proves the mindset of the characters affected by hysteria and fear. In his arguments it's more hysteria than

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