Causes Of Hysteria In The Crucible

who's to blame for the hysteria in salem ?

In The crucible(1953), Arthur Miller expresses that mass hysteria is the product of several people and can cloud one’s judgement. A Group of girls were found dancing in the woods, which is illegal due to their religious belief. One of the younger girls was diagnosed with the symptoms of being a “witches”. She is diagnosed by Reverend Hale, a man who has too much faith in books. He has so much faith in books he is often biased which clouds his judgment because of his strong belief in books. His judgement leads to the death of the 19 people were in fact not witches. After John proctor and 2 other influential people of the town are hung, the “witch” hunts end. Who is responsible for the witchcraft hysteria? how did the mass hysteria cloud people's judgment ? Although most people would blame Abigail for the witchcraft in Salem. The ones most responsible are the girls and the reverend.

After accused in the beginning of the play none of the girls spoke up and confessed to only dancing in the woods. Before the witchcraft theory was introduced, Abigail herself told her Uncle that they [were only dancing](Miller 140). If the girls admit to only dancing, the whole hysteria of witchcraft would not begin. The girls outnumber Abigail, it would have been one girl against a group of girls saying something different. In result of of no one speaking up about the truth, 19 faultless people were killed. They were killed because the girls didn’t vocalize the truth. Innocent lives could be saved and avoid the entire hysteria if the girls told the truth of dancing and participating in