How Does Arthur Miller Present Hysteria In The Crucible

INTRODUCTION

In “The Crucible”, Arthur Miller illustrates through the characters that fear and hysteria can destroy communities and makes society fight among themselves and against their religion.

BODY 1

Arthur Miller uses the character of Abigail Williams to provide evidence about the impact of hysteria and fear that is caused in Salem by the accusations of witchcraft.

When the people from Salem start to accuse the girls and Abigail williams of witchcraft, Abigail feels that she is being threatened and tries to stay away from the problem, “She made me do it! She made Betty do it!”.(Arthur Miller, 1154)

In other words, Abigail starts blaming innocent people to save herself from getting into trouble or inclusive being hanged.

After all

After many people begins to be accused in Salem, John Proctor’s wife becomes one of them. “If she is innocent! Why do you never wonder if Parris be Innocent, Or Abigail?.... This warrant’s vengeance! I’ll not give my wife to vengeance!” ( Arthur Miller, 1179 )

In other words, John is trying to make the court and community of Salem to realize that it is all just insane, and part of it is his fault because he committed a sin and now the consequences of this sin is coming as vengeance in his wife and fear in other innocent people.

When Elizabeth Proctor is put in jail, Proctor tries to do everything to prove she is innocent, he said his most hurtful sin ruining his name in Salem, but not even that confession could prove her innocence. And Proctor has gone wild.“I say- I say-God is dead!”( Arthur Miller, 1212 )

In other words, John Proctor says the worst things, in the worst moment, he can’t support the idea of innocent people being accused of such an absurd thing, being accused by a girl that just wants vengeance. And because of this words, people really think that the Devil is in Salem, and in John