Examples Of Hysteria In The Crucible

A crucible is a metal container with a high temperature known to melt substances, but it is also defined as a severe test or trial. The Salem witch trials took place between 1692 and 1693, during this time a tremendous amount of people had been accused, executed, and prosecuted. The reason for these prosecutions was witchcraft. Many had been convicted of practicing the Devil’s magic. Young girls had been screaming, barking like animals, and dancing in the woods. These abnormal behaviors had triggered the suspicions of witchcraft, leading to the Salem witch trials. These stories of trial had become equivalent with common phenomena, that still continue to be evident throughout the years. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible pinpoints phenomena such as

This left the town of Salem under mass hysteria, a state in which a community or group is engulfed with fear. Reverend Samuel Parris, the minister of Salem feared his reputation would be wrecked if the town had found out that his daughter, Betty, was ill of unnatural causes and involved in witchcraft, “My name is good in this village! I will not have it and said my name is soiled!” (Miller 464). This is clear evidence of hysteria. Hysteria is the outburst of fear, and The Crucible characters had been filled with fear. Reverend Parris is worried about his reputation and job because he is a self centered man worried about building his reputation in the town. He fears that because of his daughter being accused of being involved in witchcraft, he will suffer the consequences. The start of fear had begun in the home of Reverend Samuel Parris in Salem Massachusetts, because of the actions of Betty, Abigail, and Tituba who were seen dancing in the woods. Since Parris was the minister of Salem, his reputation was everything to him because he had given his blood, sweat, and tears to “bend these stiffnecked people to me.” (Miller 464). The people in the town were scared because of all the rumors that had spread about witchcraft. The effect that hysteria had on the

In The Crucible, the people of Salem had become caught up with everything that others had said, so they believed people were involved in witchcraft. Reverend Hale, for example was the “spiritual doctor” who wanted to make sure that he provided evidence before executing. If he defended anyone for not being bewitched he would be blamed. The people of Salem swamp him with accusations of witchcraft, making him take there side without investigating himself to see if there evidence is accurate. Danforth the deputy of Salem questions Hale, “What more may you ask for me? Unless you doubt my probity?” (Miller 514) Hale, knowing he cannot question Danforth's integrity, responds by saying, “I surely do not, sir. Let you consider it, then.” (Miller 515). Hales point is that he cannot disagree with Danforth and the allegations the people of Salem had made, he has to be a follower and take on what others believe is taking place. Hale knows that if he denies the witchcraft going on it can cause him to be accused of being involved in witchcraft as well. Mob mentality not only had an effect during the Salem witch trials but also in other situations throughout the world. For instance, the Holocaust. When Adolf Hitler had came into power, he manipulated an extensive amount of Germans to blame the Jewish race for all the problems that had befelled.