Examples Of Hysteria In The Crucible - 1048 Words

In todays society there are many cases of mass hysteria just like long ago. In the book John Proctor says a quote that hits big time for mass hysteria, he says â€Å"God is dead† while laughing insanely, and if that does not cause mass hysteria then nothing does. In The Crucible, many are tested with regards to their faith and put on trial for witchcraft. In this play, nineteen are hanged and one is pressed to death for the crime of being a witch, for that being John Proctor. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller uses McCarthyism to show how important mass hysteria is, mass hysteria involving Abigail, and the breaking of Mary Warrens will leads to mass hysteria. In the play, the phrase â€Å"mass hysteria† cannot by itself do the work. Even now, most†¦show more content†¦Also, Witchcraft is the use of supposed magic powers, generally to harm people(Dundes 373). While seeking Reverend Hales help, Reverend Parris inadvertently gives his own idea of the doctrine of witchcraft since he wants someone who has much experience in all demonic arts. . . (14). In the play, Mary Warren was one of the girls that was seen in the woods by Reverend Hale. When they go caught she told him that she was not participating she was just watching. In the b ook she felt guilt for the poppet, and it causing suspicion on Elizabeth. She was also scared of Abigail, because of the things that she did and she she wanted John Proctor to love her the way she loved him. ( Miller 2) In this world there have been causes of mass hysteria even back in the old days. In 1939 Mysterious girls were having cases of strange twitching making parents of the students curious. A big cause of hysteria was found in a case of a girl suffering in lack of attention. She was having sorts of insecurity and paranoia. For common people, twitching is a sign of nerve problem. But one case in Louisiana in 1939 involved numerous students suffering from twitching and all inflicted students were female. It began when one female student show sign of twitching in her right. It happened during an annual homecoming ball. Unfortunately, the twitching did not end up on that particular day, in fact, the twitching became worse as weeks went by. Following the incident, some of her fellowShow MoreRelatedExamples Of Hysteria In The Crucible1095 Words   |  5 Pages Hysteria is displayed by communities all over the world. It is an important factor in making and especially breaking relationships. In The Crucible, a play by Arthur Miller, hysteria plays an important role of tearing apart the community of Salem by creating an environment where people act on their grudges. It is shown by many of the characters throughout the play as they eventually ruin one another as the book goes on. Mass hysteria negatively affects the lives of people around us. Many thingsRead MoreExamples Of Mass Hysteria In The Crucible1413 Words   |  6 Pagesupon being accused as â€Å"hosts† of the devil and his evil ways of life. In the novel, The Crucible by Arthur Miller he depicts the mass hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials. The Witch Trials were provoked by the strict religious beliefs of the Puritan community, in which the people believed that the devil was constantly trying to pervade their religious communities and their Christian beliefs. Within the Crucible, Abigails accusations and other acts of self-preservation can be ascribed to remnants ofRead MoreThemes in The Crucible by Arthur Miller Essay773 Words   |  4 Pagesliterary work, there are themes. A theme is a broad idea, moral or message of a book or story. One individual may construe the themes of a book or story differently than another, but that is the pure beauty of themes. One great literary work is The Crucible, a play written by Arthur Miller. Succinctly, the play is about the Salem witch trials that took place in Massachusetts in 1692. Throughout the story, the townspeople indict their neighbors of being a witch and practicing witchcraft. On the surfaceRead MoreThe Effects Of Hysteria In The Crucible1489 Words   |  6 Pagescountless number of elements can be accounted for. Hysteria is a major leader in past and present day society when it comes to how people act and think in different situations. The Crucible provides great examples with how hysteria can affect a group of people. Back in Salem, Massachusetts 1692, hysterics swept the town, creating storms of emotion. Everyone is wondering, what to do? What to think? In The Crucible, Arthur Miller uses the effects of mass hysteria to reveal his purpose of using it in his writingRead MoreHysteria In The Crucible1474 Words   |  6 Pagess behavior and thoughts. Hysteria, uncontrollable emotion among groups, is a major leader in past and present day society when it comes to how people act and think in different situations. The Crucible provides great examples with how hysteria can affect a group of people. Back in Salem, Massachusetts 1692, hysterics swept the town, creating a storm of emotions. Everyone wondering, what to do? What to think? In The Crucible, Arthur Miller uses the effects of mass hysteria to reveal his purpose ofRead MoreSummary Of The Crucible And The Red Scare828 Words   |  4 Pages1 A Crucible took place in 1692 when Abagail’s one little lie causes mass hysteria by lying about preforming witchcraft. She and her friends go into the woods to dance and wish for things they want to happen, Abagail wishes that Goody Proctor would die so she could have John Proctor to herself. However, Abagail lies about it and says that she saw someone else with the devil and everyone plays along to save their own skin. This relates to The Red Scare in 1950 when Joseph McCarthy lied about havingRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1431 Words   |  6 PagesThe quality most necessary in a leader and a catalyst for hysteria is the ability to manipulate. The play The Crucible by Arthur Miller depicts the events that occurred in 1690s in Massachusetts best known as the Salem Witch Trials. These events center on a group of young girls who are found dancing in the woods with a black slave. Among them is Abigail Williams, a 17 year-old-girl desperate to conceal her affair with a married man and escape charges of witchcraft. In an attempt to pull the spotlightRead MoreTheme Of Mass Hysteria In The Crucible1032 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"It is a providence the thing is out now! It is a providenceâ €  (Miller 19). At the beginning of Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, Thomas Putnam, a greedy farmer incites the outset of mass hysteria in Salem, Massachusetts by convincing the villagers that witchcraft is being practiced by those in their midst. Mass hysteria is defined in Witchcraft and Mass Hysteria in Terms of Current Psychological Theories as â€Å"a phenomenon that transmits collective illusions of threats, whether real or imaginary, throughRead MoreArthur Millers The Crucible In connection to McCarthyism1620 Words   |  7 Pagesgood example of this. The accusations of communism led to a nation-wide hysteria and fear of who was going to be named next. When this was over, the hope would be that nothing like it would ever happen again and nothing like it had ever happened before. However, we have not only repeated it on various occasions, but through Arthur Millers The Crucible, we also see the parallel of the event with the Salem Witch hunts that took place years before the hearings. The connection between The Crucible andRead MoreAnalysis Of The Crucible By Arthur Miller1195 Words   |  5 Pages Mrs. Brumbelow American Literature AB 15 June 2015 The Theme of Hysteria in â€Å"The Crucible† What is the definition of â€Å"hysteria†? Hysteria is a state of extreme or uncontrollable emotion, excitement or anxiety, especially among large groups or segments of society. Specifically, hysteria is a delitescent killer causing the death of nineteen people in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. However, hysteria does not just appear out of nowhere. There are driving forces such as taking revenge, protecting their