The Crucible: Analytical Essay
Hysteria is described as “exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitement, especially among a group of people” (Merriam-Webster). In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, a story of tragedy, a common theme seen throughout the play is hysteria; fueled by the introduction of witchcraft into Salem.The choices of characters in their hysteric outbreaks are made out of religion, revenge, and fear.
To begin, in the town of Salem, Massachusetts, there were several hysteric outbreaks that occurred due to the predominant Puritan beliefs present in that time period and culture of the 1690s. One of which can be observed when Mrs. Putnam yells, shocked, “The psalms! The psalms! She cannot bear to hear the Lord’s name!”, referring …show more content…
For example, if someone disliked their neighbor, they could easily claim that the neighbor’s spirit came to them, or bewitched them. This is observed when it’s said Giles’ wife, Martha Corey, was taken from their home and warranted when “The bloody mongrel Walcott charge her” (Miller 1076). Martha Corey and Walcott had a brief history together, putting them on a bad note. It is made known that Walcott bought a pig from Martha 4-5 years ago and shortly after Walcott received the pig, it died. The death of the first pig prompted Walcott to go back to Martha to get his money back, when really it was his fault for not feeding his pig properly, according to Martha. In court, Walcott brought up that incident, claiming that Martha bewitched all the pigs he has gotten, making him unable to keep a pig alive for more than four weeks. Another instance of revenge is seen when Elizabeth, John Proctor’s wife, is accused in court by Abigail. Elizabeth is aware of Abigail’s intentions, saying “There be a thousand names; why does she call mine?...She thinks…to take my place”, making it known Abigail must have burst into hysterics in court to go against Elizabeth (Miller 1069). It was made aware earlier in the play that Abigail had a past history with John Proctor, and from what she wished during the night in the woods, she wanted to get …show more content…
One such instance of a hysteric outbreak out of fear is when Abigail used Tituba as a scapegoat after being questioned about her involvement in the “dancing” that took place the night prior. Abigail had an inconsistency in her argument about just dancing in the woods and broke into fear, yelling to Reverend Parris and Hale “I never called him! Tituba, Tituba...She made me do it! She made Betty do it!...She makes me drink blood!”, admitting she had been dancing with the Devil, but it was Tituba who made her do it (Miller 1057). Tituba being accused then removed any suspicion from Abigail, but it was now Tituba who was in the position of danger. Tituba did just as Abigail did after she was threatened by Hale that she would be hanged. She proceeded to scream the names of Goody Good and Goody Osburn, using them as scapegoats to relieve herself of potential danger if she had not admitted to anything. Abigail later in the play is seen to be doing the same thing when her positioned became threatened by Reverend Hale upon him saying “This girl has struck me false! She has-” (Miller 1100). Abigail cut off Reverend Hale with hysteric screams, pointing at the ceiling of the courtroom, claiming there is a yellow bird in the rafters. The other girls in the courtroom who were also present the night Reverend Parris saw them in the woods followed
Hysteria is described as “exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitement, especially among a group of people” (Merriam-Webster). In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, a story of tragedy, a common theme seen throughout the play is hysteria; fueled by the introduction of witchcraft into Salem.The choices of characters in their hysteric outbreaks are made out of religion, revenge, and fear.
To begin, in the town of Salem, Massachusetts, there were several hysteric outbreaks that occurred due to the predominant Puritan beliefs present in that time period and culture of the 1690s. One of which can be observed when Mrs. Putnam yells, shocked, “The psalms! The psalms! She cannot bear to hear the Lord’s name!”, referring …show more content…
For example, if someone disliked their neighbor, they could easily claim that the neighbor’s spirit came to them, or bewitched them. This is observed when it’s said Giles’ wife, Martha Corey, was taken from their home and warranted when “The bloody mongrel Walcott charge her” (Miller 1076). Martha Corey and Walcott had a brief history together, putting them on a bad note. It is made known that Walcott bought a pig from Martha 4-5 years ago and shortly after Walcott received the pig, it died. The death of the first pig prompted Walcott to go back to Martha to get his money back, when really it was his fault for not feeding his pig properly, according to Martha. In court, Walcott brought up that incident, claiming that Martha bewitched all the pigs he has gotten, making him unable to keep a pig alive for more than four weeks. Another instance of revenge is seen when Elizabeth, John Proctor’s wife, is accused in court by Abigail. Elizabeth is aware of Abigail’s intentions, saying “There be a thousand names; why does she call mine?...She thinks…to take my place”, making it known Abigail must have burst into hysterics in court to go against Elizabeth (Miller 1069). It was made aware earlier in the play that Abigail had a past history with John Proctor, and from what she wished during the night in the woods, she wanted to get …show more content…
One such instance of a hysteric outbreak out of fear is when Abigail used Tituba as a scapegoat after being questioned about her involvement in the “dancing” that took place the night prior. Abigail had an inconsistency in her argument about just dancing in the woods and broke into fear, yelling to Reverend Parris and Hale “I never called him! Tituba, Tituba...She made me do it! She made Betty do it!...She makes me drink blood!”, admitting she had been dancing with the Devil, but it was Tituba who made her do it (Miller 1057). Tituba being accused then removed any suspicion from Abigail, but it was now Tituba who was in the position of danger. Tituba did just as Abigail did after she was threatened by Hale that she would be hanged. She proceeded to scream the names of Goody Good and Goody Osburn, using them as scapegoats to relieve herself of potential danger if she had not admitted to anything. Abigail later in the play is seen to be doing the same thing when her positioned became threatened by Reverend Hale upon him saying “This girl has struck me false! She has-” (Miller 1100). Abigail cut off Reverend Hale with hysteric screams, pointing at the ceiling of the courtroom, claiming there is a yellow bird in the rafters. The other girls in the courtroom who were also present the night Reverend Parris saw them in the woods followed