The Crucible is an interesting play about the Salem witch trials put together by Arthur Miller. Arthur Miller put this play together after he was wrongly accused as being a communist during the Red Scare and was treated unfairly. This story takes place in Salem, Massachusetts in the year of 1962. The Salem witch trials was a very dark time in America's history that could have easily been avoided if people did not have such hatred and vengeance in their heart. It all started when a group of girls was caught dancing in the woods by Reverend Parris. After he caught the girls rumors of witchcraft began to spread through the town, so Reverend Parris sent for Reverend Hale, who has dealt with situations like this before. While some of the men, like …show more content…
As he did believe that witches existed, he did not want to accept that they were in Salem. He could not accept it because he could tell that the girls were lying about everything. “I know not what I have said, I may have said it. I have wondered if there be witches in the world although I cannot believe they come among us now.” (Act II, Pg.1279). Because of the intolerance it leads him to take a stand for what he thought was right. He refused to believe the girls stories, and he was not willing to confess a lie. Along with intolerance, hysteria was occurring throughout the entire town.
Hysteria was possibly the most import theme in the play even though it was shown mainly later in the play. It was primarily shown when the girls exaggerated things that were happening. Then it was also shown by Reverend Hale when he begged for the confession of John Proctor. “Excellency, it is enough he confess himself. Let him sign it, let him sign it.” (Act IV, Pg. 1331). This shows that Reverend Hale could not control his emotions, as he knew that Proctor was innocent. The four themes reputation, intolerance, empowerment, and hysteria help the reader find an importance and a meaning during the