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How Does Arthur Miller Present Hysteria In The Crucible

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The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a very famous play written in the early 1950’s. The play is about the period in American history known as the Salem witch trials. During this time period many people wanted to get rid of witch craft and it was strongly believed that witch craft was possible. People who were accused of witchcraft would have to go to court, stand in front of a authority who was high in power, be intimidated, interrogated, and frequently coerced in betraying others in order to save their own life. The community of Salem, Massachusetts is torn apart by hysteria, ignorance, and hate. Some say the play was Miller’s attempt to come to terms with and understand modern social dynamics. The Crucible portrays Hysteria that took …show more content…

Young girls are caught dancing in the moonlight which causes the hysteria to start affecting the whole town of Salem. The girls refuse to confess, and due to not confessing the town of Salem started to go downhill. Anyone in the community acting strange would get accused of witch craft. Hysteria allows people to act on their grudges by accusing people of crazy accusations. As the hysteria spread it caused many innocent people to be accused of witchcraft and then being hanged for it. Miller’s play may be fiction, but the play shows how paranoid and fear can escalate. The Crucible can be analyzed using many different criticisms. Brooke Akinson said, “For "The Crucible," despite its current implications, is a self-contained play about a terrible period in American history. Silly accusations of witchcraft by some mischievous girls in Puritan dress gradually take possession of Salem. Before the play is over good people of pious nature and responsible temper are condemning other good people to the gallows.” Analyzing the book from different perspectives can offer new thoughts on the story. The time period during which the book takes place was a society mainly dominated by men. Men had all the power while

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