Examples Of Hysteria In The Crucible

Hysteria is when an exaggerated or uncontrollable amount of emotion between a person and or groups of people exists. The Crucible depicts the town of Salem in a state of hysteria, as people in the community begin to think illogically, judge others, and easily believe that their neighbors, who they once considered as good, upstanding people, are committing witchcraft. With this state of hysteria, the community members begin to lose their morals and will do whatever they want in order to survive. Tituba and Proctor are two characters that portray unethical and irrational behaviors as a result of living in an environment filled of hysteria. Tituba, a very religious servant, falls victim to the hysteria in Salem, as she loses her religious morals …show more content…
As the story develops Proctor becomes less and less rational and acts out. For example, stated at one point, “If she is innocent! Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail? Is the accuser always holy now? Were they born this morning as clean as God’s fingers? I’ll tell you what’s walking Salem--- Vengeance is walking Salem”(Page 77). This quote is expressing the problems with the witchcraft trial scheme in Salem: assuming that the accusers are most likely innocent. In this specific case Abigail wants to get rid of Elizabeth immediately by doing this she is putting revenge back on her for firing at her and trying to take Proctor away from her. “We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law! (Page77)”. It is evident how angry Proctor has become at the illogical fact that the children are in complete control and also how things in the town are becoming hysteric because they are being handled in a wrong matter from the children who have it in their hands. Another way in which Proctor shows that he conveys hysteria, as a character is when he states; You will not use me! I am no Sarah Good or Tituba I am John Proctor! You will not use me! It is no part of salvation that you should use me! (Page 142-143). This quote is showing that he doesn’t want

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