Hysteria In The Crucible

The hysteria that occurs in Arthur Miller’s play about the 1692 Salem witch trials, The Crucible is used the explore the rawest form of human cognisance. Characters contained within the play exemplifies the many layers a human can have. Underneath the Puritan facade, the characters hold complex, layered personifications of emotion. Many involved within the Salem witch trials undergo stressful situations whether short term of long term. The plays name, The Crucible, seems to derive from the stressful, heated situations that occur. A crucible is given three different definitions by the Merriam Webster dictionary. One, ‘a vessel used for melting other items within’, two, “a severe test”, and three, “a place or situation in which concentrated

Warren soon regrets her decision and looks to reconcile. The power she holds scares her and she wished to appease her past deeds od accusing anyone and everyone in the town of witchcraft. Mary works for the Proctors, and her ties seem to cause her guilt when she ultimately accuses Elizabeth of witchcraft and attempting to kill her. To rescind her actions Mary states “ Why, I-I think it is mine.[the poppet]” (Miller 75). Soon after, Mary agrees to Proctors demands that she come clean about all of the false accusations made by her and the rest of the girls. However, she cracks again when interrogated about the pretense and the girls show up again and claim to see a spirit. Mary fears that she will be condemned by the girls and reverts her statement about Elizabeth and in the midst of it all, John Proctor reveals his affair with Abigail Williams. Mary went back and forth between the pretense and the truth, breaking free for in a moment into the right, but the heat of the lies burned her and caused her to repeal the truth she once

An observer of ll the events, Reverend John Hale is seen to begin as an upright, religious man with positive look on life and the jib to find and condemn witches in Salem. However, as the events unfold, Hale soon descends to a cynical, pessimistic state. Hale’s confidence slowly fades away as more accusation are thrown as a mask for personal gain. Beginning his journey as a strong believer in witches and a leader/neutral party in Salem, he has the unique position of being able to observe all that happens fairly with only the purpose of doing good in the world and getting rid of witches. However, all does not go according to plan. Hale begins to harbor suspicions surrounding the accusations from the people of the town. Are they truly being affected by witches or finally have the means to condemn others for personal gain. Hale acts as a crucible in slow motion. HIs cracks appear little by little. First, he, of his own accord, travels to the Proctors to determine for himself what truly is happening in the midst of the hysteria. He doubts his own decisions on those accused of witchcraft and we eventually find him quitting the court. Hale is in a state of anger and disbelief towards the people of Salem with all of the unjust proceedings in the court and the personal vendettas everyone seems to have against each other. Hale’s denouncements of the court proceedings and quitting the job he