Paranoia’s Effect
The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, a historical play with exciting, enticing, and extraordinary plot lines and characters. The play takes place in Salem, Massachusetts 1692. At this time Salem, part of Puritan America, religious values shape every aspect of someone’s life. Miller presents strong characters, such as: Tituba, Mary Warren, and Abigail Williams. All accuse people because they are afraid and want to either save or change their lives. Paranoia leads to the “Devil’s” destruction of the town. Everyone begins to accuse each other of witchcraft over the smallest of reasons simply because of the paranoia. Fear and accusations lead to the majority of the town losing their minds and continue the spread of witchcraft, …show more content…
Mary knows the truth, but possesses too much fear to speak up, until she’s forced by John Proctor. “I cannot, they’ll turn on me!”(76). “Mary Warren faints at the courthouse because of the dramatic accusations happening around her regarding witchcraft. Mary Warren did not actually have an ailment but the circumstances became so persuasive that she convinced herself to faint. Later in the story Mary admits that she wasn’t affected by witchcraft, but she thought she was. “It’s not a trick! She stands. I-I used to faint because I-I thought i saw spirits”( 99). Now that Mary Warren is no longer under the influence of the hysteria brought upon by the girls, she can realize that she was faking, but can’t bring herself to fake the same thing again because she lacks the emotion to do so. Additionally, earlier in the story when the existence of witchcraft in the girls originally thought to be under the influence of the devil was not being admitted, confusion of the unknown leads to paranoia when “truth” is told. As soon as one person admits that they have seen the devil before, and saw someone else with the devil, all the girls start shouting names of people they have “seen” with the devil, because they were so caught up in the drama of what is happening. “I saw Goody Hawkins with the Devil!...I saw Goody Bibber with the Devil!”(46). And finally, “I saw Goody Booth with the Devil!”(46). The girls previously claim not to have seen anyone with the Devil but now they “remember” seeing all of these people with the Devil. Paranoia and hysteria can have a vast influence on a person’s emotions, thoughts and actions. Ultimately, Mary Warren decides her life is of a higher value than the truth, and accuses John Proctor, to save her own life. “pointing at Proctor: You’re the Devil’s man!”(110). John Proctor decides he wants to remain true to
The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, a historical play with exciting, enticing, and extraordinary plot lines and characters. The play takes place in Salem, Massachusetts 1692. At this time Salem, part of Puritan America, religious values shape every aspect of someone’s life. Miller presents strong characters, such as: Tituba, Mary Warren, and Abigail Williams. All accuse people because they are afraid and want to either save or change their lives. Paranoia leads to the “Devil’s” destruction of the town. Everyone begins to accuse each other of witchcraft over the smallest of reasons simply because of the paranoia. Fear and accusations lead to the majority of the town losing their minds and continue the spread of witchcraft, …show more content…
Mary knows the truth, but possesses too much fear to speak up, until she’s forced by John Proctor. “I cannot, they’ll turn on me!”(76). “Mary Warren faints at the courthouse because of the dramatic accusations happening around her regarding witchcraft. Mary Warren did not actually have an ailment but the circumstances became so persuasive that she convinced herself to faint. Later in the story Mary admits that she wasn’t affected by witchcraft, but she thought she was. “It’s not a trick! She stands. I-I used to faint because I-I thought i saw spirits”( 99). Now that Mary Warren is no longer under the influence of the hysteria brought upon by the girls, she can realize that she was faking, but can’t bring herself to fake the same thing again because she lacks the emotion to do so. Additionally, earlier in the story when the existence of witchcraft in the girls originally thought to be under the influence of the devil was not being admitted, confusion of the unknown leads to paranoia when “truth” is told. As soon as one person admits that they have seen the devil before, and saw someone else with the devil, all the girls start shouting names of people they have “seen” with the devil, because they were so caught up in the drama of what is happening. “I saw Goody Hawkins with the Devil!...I saw Goody Bibber with the Devil!”(46). And finally, “I saw Goody Booth with the Devil!”(46). The girls previously claim not to have seen anyone with the Devil but now they “remember” seeing all of these people with the Devil. Paranoia and hysteria can have a vast influence on a person’s emotions, thoughts and actions. Ultimately, Mary Warren decides her life is of a higher value than the truth, and accuses John Proctor, to save her own life. “pointing at Proctor: You’re the Devil’s man!”(110). John Proctor decides he wants to remain true to