The Crucible: Mass Hysteria

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The Crucible: Mass Hysteria
In 1692, a small town in Salem, Massachusetts experienced an outbreak of mass hysteria and pure chaos in fear of witchcraft. The incidents were started by a small group of teen girls who accused innocent people of being with the devil and witchcraft. It baffles me to see that such a religious town could be in such an uproar to these accusations. Arthur Miller uses great examples of mass hysteria within the girls and other people in the town. Many people go along with what the girls are doing, while some stick to their own belief in what is right. There are many stages displayed in 'The Crucible' developed throughout the play that relate to many current situations here in our world today.
In class we discussed the different stages of mass hysteria that were present. The author has a great way of showing how fear can make people realize things that are not really happening or act in a way that is not necessary in certain situations. In the play many characters do not take responsibility for what they do see going on. As a result many lives are taken. For example, John Proctor realizes how dangerous the witchcraft accusations are when the court officials arrest his wife, Elizabeth, for witchcraft: "The little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law! I ll not give my wife to vengeance!” (Miller 34). Before his wife was arrested, John really did not see that the girls weren't just telling little “white lies”. I feel that since the accusations were not directly affecting him or his family he did not take them that seriously. It was a wake up call for him. He soon takes actions in stopping innocent people being put to death. John turns to Mary for help in proving the girls lies. " You re coming with me, Mary, you will tell it in the court We will slide together into our pit; you will tell the
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