The quote "Fear can prevail over reason so that fact and opinion become confused" by the mathematician and philosopher Thucydides speaks to the idea that when people are fearful, they may lose their ability to think rationally and differentiate between fact and opinion. This concept is central to Arthur Miller's play The Crucible, which depicts the events surrounding the Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts in the late 1600s.
In Act III of The Crucible, fear is rampant in Salem as the court begins its hearings and trials to determine who is a witch. As a result of this fear, many characters, including some of the judges and accusers, lose their ability to reason and distinguish between fact and opinion. This is exemplified in several events throughout Act III.
Confusion between fact and opinion regarding evidence
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87), suggesting that anyone who questions the court's proceedings must be a supporter of witchcraft. This mentality leads to confusion between fact and opinion, as the judges and accusers begin to see any evidence that supports their preconceived notions as fact and any evidence that contradicts them as opinion.
Fear leading to false accusations
The fear and hysteria that grips Salem also leads to false accusations, as people begin to accuse others of witchcraft without any real evidence. For example, in Act III, Abigail Williams accuses Mary Warren of sending her spirit to attack her. Mary denies this, but because the court is so afraid of the potential presence of witchcraft, they choose to believe Abigail's accusation, even though it is based solely on her opinion.
Fear leading to the condemnation of innocent