Examples Of Hysteria In The Crucible

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Hysteria. A slew of slews. This is the best word for Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”, the people of Salem, Massachusetts lose all sense of better judgment and begin to accuse everyone around them of conspiring with the devil in order to save themselves. This play was written in the early 1950s by Miller in response to someone who baselessly accused him of being a communist. Many characters in this play change from where they began. The characters that have changed the most throughout the play are Reverend Hale, Elizabeth Proctor, and John Proctor. When Hale is first introduced in Act 1 he is shown as a talented and intellectual witch-hunter, someone determined to find and fix the problems plaguing Salem. Hale was called to Salem in Act 1 after …show more content…

These people would be executed without proper trial. Abigail would soon accuse Elizabeth Proctor, a woman known for being unable to lie and the wife of John Proctor. Hale knew Elizabeth was innocent and began to question Abigail and the court. Hale would later completely remove himself from the court, “I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court!” (-Miller, Act 3 Page 52) Before John Proctor's trial, he would sarcastically say to Judge Danforth, “Why it is simple. I come to do the devils work. I come to counsel Christians they should believe themselves.”(Act 4 Page 57) This shows how much Hales's Christian morals have shifted, at the beginning Hale would never say these things, even in a sarcastic manner. Similarly Hale says “Life, woman, life is God's most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it, I beg you women, prevail upon your husband to confess.” (Act 4 Page 57)This is said just before John Proctor is found guilty, Hale is begging Elizabeth to convince John to lie in order to save himself from execution. This shows how much Hale has evolved from a strict Christian man to someone willing to suggest sin to save a supposedly guilty …show more content…

As the hysteria escalates and innocent lives are lost, John struggles with his role in perpetuating the madness and wrestles with feelings of guilt. Despite his initial hesitance to become involved in the trials, John's desire to protect his reputation would drive him to conceal his affair with Abigail Williams. However, later on in the play, John would confess the affair in an attempt to discredit Abigail. “I have known her, sir, I have known her.” (Act 3 Page 49) His decision to confess his sin publicly and defy the corrupt authorities shows his redemption and his willingness to sacrifice his life for the sake of truth and justice. John additionally says “I speak my sins, I cannot judge another.” (Act 4 Page 61) showing how he not only accepts his own wrongdoings but also accepts that he cannot judge another due to his own mistakes. In the final scenes of the play, John chooses to die with integrity rather than betray his principles, declaring, "...I have given you my soul; leave me my

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