Examples Of Hysteria In The Crucible

Hysteria spread throughout colonial Massachusetts during the Salem Witch Trials. This was a time where people were being condemned to death after being accused of witchcraft. Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible about these times. Miller developed personalities for the people who were in Salem during the Witch Trials throughout this play. Arthur Miller created many personalities one of these were individuals who felt a strong sense of duty often make unpopular choices because they felt that the choice they made was their responsibility.

This clouds his judgement to analyze evidence presented by the suspects of witchcraft. Danforth says,"We burn a hot fire here, it melts down all concealment", this quote shows that the the court only hears the truth and supposedly ignores the lies" (83). This is an inaccurate and an ironic statement. Even though, Danforth says that the court ignores all the lies to get to the truth, it is evident that this happens through the accusation of innocent girls. Danforth's power blinds him to the truth, and prevents him from seeing the effect that his actions have on the lives of innocent people

In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, hysteria is being spread throughout the puritan community of Salem. Abigail is the main reason for all of this, with her lies and her persuading her friends to follow along with the lies and blaming others. The historical setting, characters, and events have shown us hysteria throughout the play and how the people of Salem handle the feeling of being in constant fear. As we read the play it is easy to see that hysteria causes people to jump to conclusions.

Hysteria is a Disease Arthur Miller's The Crucible is a play that explores the theme of hysteria and its effects on human behavior and how it fuels the story. Hysteria, by definition, is an overwhelming fear or emotional reaction that leads to irrational or extreme behavior. In the play, the town of Salem is engulfed in mass hysteria, which leads to a series of accusations of witchcraft and the tragic consequences that follow. In this essay, I will explore the theme of hysteria in The Crucible by examining its definition and examples in the play, its influence on the characters and their actions, and the consequences that arise as a result. Through the use of quotes and analysis, this essay will demonstrate how hysteria is the driving force

Danforth, the judge of the witch trials, has a strong need to protect his position as leader of the court. He finds his position too valuable to be risked even with surfacing evidence that would prove that he had failed to protect the innocent and incarcerate the wrongdoers. In Act Three, Francis attempts to offer the facts that: “The girls, sir, the girls are frauds. (87)” Danforth is quick to dismiss the argument

In the small Puritan town of Salem, Massachusetts during the 1690s, hysteria and fear run rampant as accusations of witchcraft spread like wildfire, tearing families and communities apart. But as the trial proceedings heat up, the true motivations behind each character's actions become clearer, revealing a tale not just of witchcraft, but of power, jealousy, and the corrupting influence of fear. Although many readers would argue that Thomas Danforth is the judge and the head of the law and religion, it can be argued that Abigail Williams, a young Puritan girl, has more power and significant influence over the society as she accuses many innocents of witchcraft and questions Danforth’s authority. During the heated argument between Danforth and Abigail in the court,

Fear pushes people to do bad things, to better themselves, and to keep them safe. But sometimes this makes it worse for people around. Throughout history, there were many driving forces on what people had feared. This was through mass hysteria. In the story, “The Crucible,” by Arthur Miller, he was able to show this fear and hysteria being his driving force.

When hearing evidence that enforces the innocence of the witchcraft convicts, Danforth responds, “I will not receive a single plea for pardon or postponement. Twelve are already executed; the names of these seven are given out, and the village expects to see them die this morning. Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part” (119). Danforth shows how his unjust and crooked values pursued his decision making. He additionally parades his egocentric and opportunistic qualities, stating that his self-image is of greater importance than the lives of innocent people.

The amount of hysteria that Aruther Miller expresses through his characters in the crucible is more than relevant to what was going on at the time. Aruther Miller shows hysteria through many characters throughout the story. The characters I choose to focus on are Abigail Williams, John Proctor, and Elizabeth Proctor. The ways that he includes hysteria helped show the public how they were treating people at that given time. One of the characters Miller chooses to cause hysteria is Abigail Williams.

In John Winthrop’s speech about the city upon a hill, he makes an appeal towards the unity of the group by mentioning that they needed to, “Entertain each other in brotherly affection,” in order to walk humbly with God (Winthrop, 1630, pp.1). By doing so, Winthrop told the other Puritans aboard the Arbella, they would keep the, “Unity of the spirit in the bond of peace,” and God would walk with them, showering them with blessings and wisdom (Winthrop, 1630, pp.1). While this community was built upon the idea of peace, brotherhood, and helping each other in the name of God, the Salem Witch trials were almost the opposite. Coming from the mouth of Deodat Lawson, he told the people of Salem to come to arms, to be, “faithful unto death in spiritual warfare,” and spare none to rid themselves of the satanic fury afflicting them (LeBeau, 1998, p.89). In mentioning that people should follow their faith until death, the tone is vengeful and full of blood lust, even though it is assumed that the original purpose of the sermon, at the time, was to restore faith in the magistrate who had condemned five women to be executed on spectral evidence, which Cotton Mather abhorred as legal evidence (Mather, 1971; LeBeau, 1998).

He believes strongly in his ability to judge the character of the informants. This comes into play when others question his judgement of Abigail and the girls from the woods. Danforth has a great deal of authority over the verdict of the accused, he has the power to judge them as not guilty. Danforth being the primary judge means he could have admitted to his foolishness and told the community that the accused people were not witches, and it would have made the townspeople believe that there was no witch problem in Salem at all. Danforth is too concerned with his reputation to admit that his judgement, at first, was clouded.

Reverend Hale and Judge Danforth are two authoritative figures in The Crucible whose roles in society are to lead the community in the ways and likeness of God so that the people of Salem can, basically, be good Puritans. Despite their similar intentions, there are also blaring differences which distinctly separate the two and their beliefs. To start, both Hale and Danforth work chiefly to serve God and lead his people on Earth to live holy and just lives. When the question of the Devil and witchcraft arise within Salem, both men come to investigate and cleanse the town of evil. While Judge Danforth considers himself “a minister of the Lord” and does “not take a life without there be proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience

Stopping the trial means that he would have to admit that he is wrong, and he doesn’t want to be proven wrong because so many people have already died. In the cases of both Judge Danforth and Abigail Williams, the reader can see how the actions of many individuals, motivated in one way or another by pride, combine and precipitate the catastrophe known as the Salem Witch Trials. Judge Danforth’s pride, as a majestic Deputy Governor, finally causes much innocents to death and the downfall of

Do you understand my meaning?”. This is showing the the judge had complete trust in them and when John had pointed out that the things that the women were doing were kinda suspicious he questions it and realizes that the girls are faking all of it. Sadly he does nothing, still knowing what all the women are doing is suspicious he doesn 't stop the hangings and imprisonments. Judge Danforth may have not started the Hysteria started in the town but he fed into it by believing Abigail and not stopping her from lying when he found out she was lying to the court and the people in the town of Salem. You could say that Judge did not know that Abigail was lieing out of nativity and all his actions were lead by his dense nature because of his faith, blinding him from what was in front of him because he needed something to justify the reason for killing and imprisoning these women.

Overall, Danforth was wrong. He faces many difficult descions throughout the play, and yet he stays mostly consistent. He chooses to save his own reputation over the lives of innocent people. He knowingly sends three people to die, just so that he can look good. Danforth was the main cause of all of the heartbreak and struggle endured in Salem.