Craziness In The Crucible

Blaming Anyone for Craziness

(A Discussion on Arthur Miller’s Crucible) A controversial topic that has come up in several conversations while discussing Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, is the question of who is to blame for the mass hysteria which takes place in Salem, Massachusetts. There are several answers that people automatically jump to, that I do not necessarily consider wrong, for example Abigail. I do not disagree with that assumption, but I also don’t believe that she is entirely to blame for the craziness which overtook the small town.“I suppose I have found it easier to identify with the characters who verge upon hysteria, who were frightened of life, who were desperate to reach out to another person. But these seemingly fragile people are the strong people really.” (Williams) There was an actual problem with the amount of hysteria in Salem,

Abigail told him in the beginning of the story that all of the witchcraft was a sham, and he refused to tell anyone else. If he had just been open about the lies from the beginning, rather than waiting for more craziness to break out, then perhaps the judges would have been more lenient and not as quick to hang people, no matter the accusations. “ I think you must go to Salem, John. You must tell them it is a fraud.” (1163) Unfortunately, John Proctor did not listen to his wife and kept the secret to himself. In fact, the only reason he brought up the fact that it was a lie was when his own wife was accused of witchcraft. Proctor used Abigail’s word only when it was convenient for him. And in the end, that is what truly ended up hurting him most, and resulted in his death. “Anger, resentment and jealousy doesn't change the heart of others-- it only changes yours.” (Alder) If John Proctor would not have been slow to place the blame on Abigail, then several innocent lives could have been saved, including his