ipl-logo

Mass Hysteria In The Crucible Essay

809 Words4 Pages

“Mass hysteria is a condition which affects a group of people, it is characterized by excitement, anxiety, irrational behavior, beliefs, or inexplicable symptoms of illness within said group.” The Crucible was written and published on January 22, 1953, as means of pointing out the utter insanity of the Communist Red Scare. In the events which partook in the Red Scare, an organization by the name of the House Un-American Activities Committee was formed in 1938 and led by Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy, targeted and accused American citizens of being communists, most notably those who were successful. In The Crucible, I argue Mary Warren could have ended the mass hysteria in Salem by sticking to the truth, not taking Abigail’s threats seriously, …show more content…

Considering she was deemed an officer of the court, which obligated her to promote justice in the court. Considering this, if she had told and stuck to the truth, the court and Judge Danforth himself would have gained suspicion of Abigail and begun to believe perhaps she and the girls were lying. As stated on the stage directions after Mary states “I–I cannot tell how, but I did. I–I heard the other girls screaming and you, Your Honor, you seemed to believe them, and I–It were only sport in the beginning, sir, but then the whole world cried spirits, spirits, and I–I promise you, Mr. Danforth, I only thought I saw them but I did not” (Act III p. 344). After this statement from Mary, in the stage directions just before Parris speaks his part “Parris, smiling, but nervous because Danforth seems to be struck by Mary Warren’s story.” (Act III p. 346) This shows Danforth would have believed, even if just a little, Mary’s statements in the court. Abigail threatened all of the girls if they dare speak a word of what really happened or even break the lie she’s crafted, this included Mary Warren herself. In the text, she is shown to be fearful of Abigail in regard to all of this, often glancing at her to see what her reaction is. In the text, stage directions, it states “Mary Warren: I–She glances at Abigail, who is staring down at her remorselessly.” (Act III p. 299) Considering the unfortunate truth of Mary

Show More
Related
427 Words | 2 Pages

Danforth’s expert position further weakens Mary because as a Judge he has the power to make the final decisions. Despite this Mary continues to use her informational power to share her knowledge about Abigail’s deceitfulness, she also provides reasoning for the seeing of spirits and fainting. Once she reveals to Danforth and the rest of the court that her fainting was just a pretense, Hathorne questions “Then can she pretend to faint now?” (Miller 3.736). At this moment Mary has the potential to stop Abigail, for if she faints she can prove she and the girls were previously faking.

Read More
501 Words | 3 Pages

Instead of interrogating Abigail, he is silenced by her which most likely shows that he has accepted her demand of not being judged. At this point, there is a flip in power dynamics at the witchcraft trials, Abigail has overpowered Danforth in courtroom. Judge Danforth an honorable Judge of the supreme court has easily been dominated by a seventeen-year-old Abigail, proving that he is gullible to her lies. Lastly, right after the Andover witchcraft trial revolt, Abigail runs away and also steals Reverend Parris’s money (The crucible). The sheer act of fleeing away shows a sign of guilt and fear of punishment along with her act of stealing Reverend Parris’s money clearly speaks a lot about the criminal character of Abigail Williams.

Read More
480 Words | 2 Pages

Mary knew this and she is distraught. Mary and Abigail’s relationship is contingent on the fact that Mary helps Abigail with her plans. Mary argues with herself many times, such as in the trials and she tells the truth to help John Proctor. However, she still switches sides and conforms back to Abigail’s ways. Even though she feels guilty, Mary still goes to great lengths to save herself from being punished, regardless of the consequences to others in the play.

Read More
675 Words | 3 Pages

During Act Ⅰ of The Crucible, Abigail says, “Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible

Read More
613 Words | 3 Pages

While Abigail has little regard for those in positions of authority, she frequently opposes them. In Act 3, Abigail accuses Mary Warren of practicing witchcraft. When Judge Danforth confronts Mary, Abigail persuades the court that Mary is sending her spirit to harm the judge. This reveals Abigail's disdain for the truth and her willingness to take advantage of her

Read More
1198 Words | 5 Pages

During court, Mary said she heard “the other girls screaming” and that Danforth “seemed to believe them” so she followed suit (Miller 107). Abigail and her friends saw the court believing their act, so they continued with their theatrics. This same display of emotion from Proctor also works at convincing Danforth Abigail’s words are not to be trusted, and her accusations against his wife have no

Read More
916 Words | 4 Pages

When Mary finally decides to stop lying and confesses to never seeing spirits Danforth questions her making her lie again to save herself. “I will tell you this-you are either lying now, or you were lying in the court, and in either case you have committed perjury and you will go to jail for it. You cannot lightly say you lied, Mary. Do you know that?”(3.515.758-764). This quote shows that once Mary tells the truth instead of the decision of if that is the truth or not being out in the courts hands, it's put into Abigail's.

Read More
1608 Words | 7 Pages

(I.465-472). Seeing Abigail cry, it suggests that Abigail’s affair with John Proctor has influenced her behavior in jealousy and lust as she strives for nothing more than her love for John Proctor. By only being heartbroken, Abigail is not to be fully blamed for the hysteria within the town as her actions are only based on desperate attempts to win John Proctor over, and no intentional harm whatsoever. However, on the other hand, Abigail cannot be excused with outside forces making her the way she is due to the fact that she has clearly had a choice in most of her decisions and actions throughout the witchcraft crisis. When Mary Warren, another girl involved in the forest incident, enters the court, she explains to Danforth, the judge, that the girls are lying and are only pretending to see spirits.

Read More
1580 Words | 7 Pages

In the play Abigail only cares about herself and what she can do to protect herself. When the girls talk in Betty’s room and Mary shows weakness and wants to tell everyone about what they did in the forest, Abigail gets really angry. She threatens the girls and is not afraid to show what she is willing to do. “Now look you. All of you.

Read More
842 Words | 4 Pages

She accused Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft so she can be with John and she is lying to force Mary Warren to join their side again. In the beginning of the play, when the girls are just about to try to wake up Betty but Mr. Parris will come in while, Abigail says, “No, he’ll be comin’ up. Listen, now; if they be questioning us, tell them we danced-I told him as much already” (Miller 174). She is lying to save herself and she is expecting others to do the same and they will. In middle of the play when John Proctor just tells Mr. Hale that Abigail told him she is lying the whole time, “Abigail Williams told you it had naught to do with witchcraft” (Miller 200).

Read More
573 Words | 3 Pages

Mary Warren testified that she was lying about witchcraft so Abigail continues to lie and manipulate them. She says, “ pointing upward: The wings! Her wings are spreading! Mary, please, don’t, don’t—!” (Miller 120).

Read More
419 Words | 2 Pages

But it is a whore’s vengeance, and you must see it” (Act 3). Clearly Abigail's intentions is to get revenge back on Elizabeth Proctor and get her out of sight so she can at least win John Proctor back. John Proctor here explains the ideas of Abigail's action and goal to get the sensuality

Read More
845 Words | 4 Pages

(Miller 18). Mary was afraid of Abigail Williams and didn’t tell the truth fearing that Abigail would hurt her. While, she developed as a character and made better choices for herself. Acts 3 and 4 she attempted to help John try to accuse Abigail Williams of lying about witchcraft in the court. “I-I promise you, Mr.Danforth, I only thought I saw them but I did not’.

Read More
916 Words | 4 Pages

Mary Warren is upset that she is being accused of lying because Abigail didn’t confirm her statement. Now that she is being accused of lying, she will most likely be mad at Abigail in the future, threatening their relationship. Lying can often

Read More
751 Words | 4 Pages

After continuous pressuring Mary Warren replies with ‘I cannot, they’ll turn on me— “showing us the mob has driven fear into people and how Marry is afraid to tell the truth in the case everyone will turn on her and blame her. Mary’s feeble attempt to recompense backfires, so when Abigail uses the poppet to blame it on Elizabeth, making Mary feel even worse thus she agrees to go with proctor to testify against Abigail in court. Later after agreeing to go to court to support Proctor Mary is asked who is at fault and in fear replies pointing to proctor “You’re the devil’s man!” (act three, page 119). This demonstrates how the fear of the mob and the overwhelming pressure from the Abigail makes her turn from the truth.

Read More

More about Mass Hysteria In The Crucible Essay

Related Topics

Open Document