Hysteria In The Crucible Essay

Words: 690
Pages: 3

Hysteria means losing control of what we think is rational and righteous. To put is differently, hysteria is a state where a person’s emotions, especially fear, are so potent that a person may behave in an uncontrolled way. This image portrays the meaning of the theme hysteria. Based on my understanding, the other individuals in the picture, besides the man and the woman, are accusing the woman of something she didn’t do. Because of fear, the man, probably her husband, is protecting her from the persons, who I believe is in authority. The play “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller also have the same theme. In the screenplay, the people of Salem abruptly accused their neighbors of witchcraft and devil-worship. As this was happening, this once small …show more content…
The said play focused on the Salem witch trial in 1692 where a group of girls was believed to be tormented by witchcraft. These girls started to accuse people in the town of practicing witchcraft. The mass hysteria played a role every time the girls in the play falsely accuse people of being a witch. Moreover, the end of Act I is the most concrete example of the theme I've chosen. Tituba, a woman, accused by Abigail Williams, started to name people who she believed, might practice witchcraft and was praised for it. What Tituba did gave Abigail Williams, one of the girls, the idea of how to get away with being accused, so she started naming names and accusing people. By the end of the act, all of the girls hysterically crying and shouting out names. Hysteria also played a role throughout the whole play. “There is a misty plot afoot so subtle we should be criminal to cling to old respects and ancient friendships. I have seen too many frightful proofs in court - the Devil is alive in Salem, and we dare not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points!” (Hale, Act 2, p. 68) In this quote, Hale perfectly demonstrated the