hysteria in salem

A detailed Summary of hysteria in salem


Hysteria is defined as the behavior exhibiting overwhelming or unmanageable fear or emotional excess. Fear, can produce a state of general hysteria that results in the destruction of public order and rationality. The breakdown in Salem, Massachusetts leads to a tragedy in which many innocent people die. Arthur Miller, author of The Crucible uses the theme of hysteria to emphasize personality flaws in vulnerable characters. The accusations of witchcraft in Salem exploits the population's weakest qualities and insecurities.

When the truth is discovered about what the girls dancing in the woods; the girls are not tried for witchcraft. Instead the blame is put on Tituba the "black" slave who is said to have "charmed the girls." Abigail, thinking of her own self and afraid of being accused of witchcraft blatantly lies and says, "She (Tituba) made me do it! She made Betty do it! She makes me drink blood!" (Act I p 1057). The other girls including Betty know that Abigail is lying but they say absolut


ely nothing, thus going along with her and causing false accusations. This is one of the first accusations and it leads to many more. Because the Puritan lifestyle was such a rigid social system it did not allow for any variation of lifestyle. The girls are scared of admitting to their activities in the woods; therefore they hide their fear and blame other people. The circumstances surrounding the trials such as their strict way of living give people something to blame the supernatural on.

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er is not familiar to the Puritans or part of their daily customs causes fear. This is a common trait of Puritan life and a contribution to the horrible Salem tragedy.

Fear spreading like some kind of disease continues infecting people. Residents blame respected members of their community again and again. One of these members is the godly Rebecca Nurse. The people of Salem go as far as accusing one of the most well respected members of their community sim

Some common words found in the essay are:
Act II, Goody Osburn, Arthur Miller, Betty Abigail, Rebecca Nurse, Salem Hysteria, Reverend Hale's, Salem Massachusetts, Act Abigail, Corey Francis, rebecca nurse, mass confusion, goody osburn, act ii, osburn witch, respected community, theme hysteria,

Approximate Word count = 694
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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