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How Does The Truth Cause Hysteria In The Crucible

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The Crucible Argumentative Essay
Hysteria is defined as exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitement, especially among a group of people. In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, the feeling of hysteria is experienced throughout the entire town of Salem, Massachusetts. Salem is a town that holds witch trials where people are tried for not following the puritan beliefs. In the play, Betty, the daughter of Reverend Parris, is asleep and cannot be wakened. People in the town suspect witchcraft as the cause. Abigail, niece of Reverend Parris, and her friends are suspected by people. Abigail knows the punishments of being found guilty of witchcraft and takes matters into her own hands. Although some may believe Judge Danforth, deputy governor, …show more content…
By threatening Mary and Mercy, Abigail is protecting herself from being condemned of witchcraft by controlling the people around her. Due to all of this, Abigail’s forced concealment of the truth causes hysteria amongst the girls; the truth is never released, only false lies are spread which causes hysteria amongst the people. Next, Abigail is surrounded by people with Reverend Parris, John Hale (an expert on witchcraft) and Betty who lies unconscious. Abigail accuses Tituba, Parris’s slave, of being a witch. Tituba, knowing her status in society, falsely exclaims that she committed witchcraft and Sarah Good and Sarah Osburn, member of the lower class of Salem, also committed witchcraft. Abigail jumps on the situation and pleads, “I want to open myself! I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus! I danced for the Devil; I saw him; I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand. I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!” (1. 1050-59). Abigail saw Tituba admit her guilt of witchcraft and then

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