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Hysteria In Salem In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

561 Words3 Pages

Leiffer 1
Jake Leiffer
Mrs. Faulkner
English 11 Honors
October 3, 2014
Hysteria In Salem In Salem things are getting crazy. Hysteria is going around like a disease, but not from witchcraft. In The Crucible several accusations have taken place taking the lives of many due to hysteria. Hysteria is being spread through three different things. Political, social, and personal forces are playing a role in the Hysteria in Salem. First off, political influences are causing hysteria. The judicial system in Salem is corrupt. Thomas Putnam for example, tries to take advantage of an opportunity he has to take someones land. If he gets off with the case and the defendant is hung he receives his wish. In act 3 Giles calls out Putnam to the judge. He says, “I have evidence for the court! ..Thomas Putnam is reaching out for land!” (84) Putnam is of the lower class which makes this case even more believable. The hysteria here is Putnam uses his social situation to take advantage of the judicial branch or Salem. Another example of political hysteria is made by Judge Danforth. Danforth is the top dog in the court room. His opinion triumphs all in the case. Danforth seems to believe that the girls are victims and did not commit witchcraft. Danforth gets put in a situation where he decides to choose his reputation over the lives of many. …show more content…

Abigail Williams, a girl who was accused of witchcraft uses her situation to get payback on John Proctor, a married man she had an affair with. Abigail is obsessed with Proctor to the point she will do anything to be with him. This is seen in Act 1 when Abigail says “I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a point reckoning that will shudder you.” (20) Abigail will do anything to get to John Proctor which would even include murder. To get John back Abigail went as far as stabbing herself and accusing his wife of voodoo. This is a huge example of

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