Hysteria In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

Imagine living in a town where everyone was running amok, hysterical and paranoid, because of accused witches. This is the reality for the townspeople in Salem featured in The Crucible by Arthur Miller. For this reason, hysteria and paranoia had the biggest impact on Salem in The Crucible. This is shown through the multitude of accusations and the impact Abigail had on townspeople. Many would argue that jealously and greed had the biggest impact. However, the plot only continued because of the hysteria and paranoia. Therefore, hysteria and paranoia within Salem had the biggest impact on The Crucible. The biggest impact in The Crucible is hysteria and paranoia. This is shown through the many accusations occurring throughout the play. Throughout

Most accusations and beliefs that there are witches in Salem come from the impact other characters have on them. One of these characters is Abigail Williams. Abigail is a teenaged orphan, who lives with her uncle, and becomes one of the biggest instigators of the paranoia and hysteria in The Crucible. In the text Ezekiel Cheever says, "She sat to dinner in Reverend Parris's house tonight, and without word nor warning she falls to the floor. Like a struck beast, he says, and screamed a scream that a bull would weep to heat" (Miller, 74). This quote enable readers to see Abigail William's impact on a multitude of characters. Abigail plants some type of voodoo doll, that she has stuck a needle in Elizabeth Proctor. She then created a plan to faint and act as if she was cursed, to send Elizabeth to jail. In the spur of the moment, Abigail is an expert in influencing others. Readers see this through a scene in Act III. "Abigail, to the ceiling, in a genuine conversation with the 'bird,' as though trying to talk it out of attacking her: But God made my face; you cannot want to tear my face. Envy is a deadly sin, Mary" (Miller 115). This quote clearly shows the impact Abigail has on increasing the hysteria and paranoia of Salem. Abigail creates an entire scene over an imaginative creature. Through this she scares the townspeople through a live-action cursing, as well as the

While something can be highly talked about, but that doesn't mean it's the best. Although jealously was a giant speaking point in the play, hysteria and paranoia allowed for it to continue. One may give the example of Thomas Putnam and his plan of getting land based off accusations. "The incident is important only in that Burroughs succeeded in becoming minister where Bayley, Thomas Putnam's brother-in-law, had been rejected; the motif of resentment is clear here [...] and he meant to right matters however he could" (Miller 14). Putnam was jealous that his brother-in-law did not get the job, therefore the motive for making an accusation of a witch. However, an accusation is only words said or written, no one is going to make a fuss about that. There will only be a fuss when someone is declared a witch and the entire population is deathly afraid. Others might argue Abigail's jealousy for Elizabeth Proctor. Abigail was still in love with John and wanted Elizabeth out of the picture, so she accused her of being a witch because of that. John Proctor is seen saying, “If she is innocent! Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail? Is the accuser always holy now? [...] I'll tell you what's walking Salem- vengeance is walking Salem" (Miller 77). Similarly to the point before, words are just words. John finds the true meaning of all these accusations,