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Fear In The Crucible

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The Crucible: How Fear Changes People During his first Inaugural Address, Franklin D. Roosevelt once announced, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”. Fear manipulates a persons rationality resulting in them behaving in ways they normally would not, especially in the story The Crucible written by Arthur Miller. The characters in The Crucible allow fear to manipulate their beliefs and actions. They all know what is right, but fear alters their mindset causing them to act differently. Therefore, people unintentionally allow fear to cause them to act irrationally. After Tituba fearfully admits to witchcraft and dealing with the devil, she comes up with a whole story about the devil and irrationally accuses people of witchcraft. She …show more content…

Hale went to the houses of those accused because he was starting to worry that they were actually innocent. He acknowledges, “No man may longer doubt the powers of the dark are gathered in monstrous attack upon this village. There is too much evidence now to deny it” (II.469-473.). Hale tells John and Elizabeth how the accusations are attacking the village, and how there is more evidence making it more difficult to not believe Abigail’s lie. Hale is worried that innocent people are being accused, but he also feels obligated to agree with the court. He then explains how “no crack in a fortress may be accounted small” (II.573-574.) after John could not remember his last commandment. Meaning that Puritans should be perfect, and any small crack in their faith makes them susceptible to going against their religion. Hale does not want to turn against his religion, so he continues to agree with the court, whereas more innocent people are being accused and hanged. Also, in attempt to tell the truth about Abigail, John Proctor admits to cheating on his wife with Abigail, but Elizabeth lets her fear assist her in lying. John Proctor tells everyone in the court, previous to Elizabeth arriving, “she [has] never lied” (III.891.). With everyone now knowing that she does not lie, it makes her trustworthy and believable. Deputy Danforth then brings Elizabeth in to confirm what

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