Individuality In The Crucible

To be alive in the era of civilized men means individuality is sacrificed for the good of the whole; although if individuality is forsaken to be part of this whole, the individual must avoid letting the group control his thoughts lest this affect his rationality. Arthur Miller found the Salem Witch Trials an exemplary example which demonstrated the dangerous repercussions of mass sensationalism in The Crucible. In Puritan society all decisions are to be based on god’s will, this high level of spirituality is difficult to maintain and more so difficult to properly judge.
If we are to properly judge as announced to be our intention then must define sensationalism, why it is a negative force, and the branching problems it invokes. Sensationalism and the societal hive mind is a continuous notion in any group. This idea that the group allows itself to be inebriated with a pernicious but gradually more wicked idea contradicts any type of reason that can be found within society. Merriam-Webster defines sensationalism as “ the use of shocking details to cause a lot of excitement or interest” [1], so sensationalism relies on the shock value or the ability to excite; but why is this a bad or negative thing. Shock in its base is meant to disturb, this creates a state of shock which leaves one reacting on instinct. When relying on instinct people will ignore the obvious or logical reality. Take for example the loss of keys in your

In the witch trials of 1692 many people were hung because they were believed to be witches. This was allowed because of the initial shock which overrode the reason of the people. The Crucible is a dramatic retelling of these events. Mary Warren a rather timid young women is one of a group of girls accusing people of witchcraft. In act II after the trials of Sarah Good an accused witch she has this conversation with Elizabeth