Depression And Anxiety In The Crucible

Depression and Anxiety Through the Eyes of the Accused

Living with depression and anxiety often causes feelings of guilt, helplessness, and can completely consume the person. Arthur Miller channels these intense emotions in The Crucible through the people of Salem’s fates due to the false accusations of witchcraft. The guilt, helplessness, and consumption the accused experience are all symbols of the effects of depression and anxiety. Depression is often a battle against self-hatred, burdensome feelings of guilt, and feelings of deserving to be punished. Elizabeth Proctor clearly demonstrates self-hatred when she takes responsibility for John Proctor’s affair without a doubt in her mind, blaming herself. “It takes a cold wife to prompt …show more content…
Also, depression can make people think they are unable to save themselves, and John thinks only God can save him. Guilt and depression are both powerful enough to cause people to act impulsively or destroy themselves or their reputation, as John does. Elizabeth and John Proctor’s guilt and what comes along with it correlates with depression and anxiety’s ability to bring feelings of self-hatred and desire punishment. When struggling with depression, people typically feel completely helpless and like slaves to their depression. Reverend Hale is powerless against the court, and his voice remains unheard as he attempts to protest against the court’s decisions. “It’s a lie! They are innocent” (). Hale realizes that the accusations are false, but he fails to convince the court that the subjects have been falsely accused because the court is too powerful and unstoppable. Likewise, depression is infamous for its incredible power of stripping its victims of hope, motivation, and purpose away during a cruel battle, rendering victims powerless against the disease. Although Hale is completely confident that the accused are indeed innocent, he just cannot defeat the court. Similarly, in many cases of depression …show more content…
Prior to Tituba’s charges of witchcraft, she is a devoted Christian who did not support the Devil in any way, yet the accusations are strong enough to warp her mindset and change her beliefs. “Take me home, Devil” (). Tituba has become so consumed by the accusations of witchcraft that she offers herself up to the Devil, believing that she actually is a witch. Depression is so strong and manipulative that it can drastically alter a person’s personality, just like how Tituba has been deceived into believing that she indeed is a witch. The accusations have completely taken over Tituba that she is under the impression that she does not belong in Salem because she is a witch. Anxiety also has the ability to convince its victims of unrealistic beliefs in almost any situation. Instead of fearing the Devil, Tituba perceives the Devil as her savior although before the accusations, she does not want to associate with the Devil at all. Unfortunately, depression can sometimes consume people to the extent that they begin to behave in ways that they never would have before, such as engaging in dangerous activities, self-harming, or attempting or committing suicide. Depression can also wreak havoc on its victims by robbing their identities, much like the accusations and the court that are so powerful that John looses