Who Causes Mass Hysteria In The Crucible?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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In the Crucible by Arthur Miller, Abigail Williams is to blame for the mass hysteria in Salem because she wants to be with John Proctor

Who caused mass hysteria in The Crucible?

Reverend Hale, Abigail Williams and Judge Danforth . These three characters can be the most to blame for the cause of the spread and start of hysteria in Salem during the Witch Trials. The cause of the hysteria was caused by Reverend Hale, Abigail Williams and Judge Danforth.

How does mass hysteria happen in The Crucible?

In The Crucible, neighbors suddenly turn on each other and accuse people they’ve known for years of practicing witchcraft and devil-worship. The town of Salem falls into mass hysteria, a condition in which community-wide fear overwhelms logic and individual thought and ends up justifying its own existence.

Who is most to blame for the hysteria in the crucible?

In the Crucible by Arthur Miller, Abigail Williams is to blame for the mass hysteria in Salem because she wants to be with John Proctor, she tries to kill Elizabeth, and she tries to save her name.

What are examples of mass hysteria?

An outbreak of fatal dancing fits among members of the same community, men suddenly gripped by the sickening fear of losing their genital organs , and teenagers having mysterious symptoms after watching an episode of their favorite TV series — these are all instances of what we often refer to as “mass hysteria.”

What does the crucible say about hysteria?

Hysteria supplants logic and enables people to believe that their neighbors, whom they have always considered upstanding people, are committing absurd and unbelievable crimes —communing with the devil, killing babies, and so on.

How does Proctor cause hysteria?

His lust for Abigail Williams led to their affair (which occurs before the play begins), and created Abigail’s jealousy of his wife, Elizabeth , which sets the entire witch hysteria in motion. ... Proctor redeems himself and provides a final denunciation of the witch trials in his final act.

What are examples of hysteria in the crucible?

One specific example of hysteria occurs in Act III when the girls, led by Abigail, accuse Mary Warren of witchcraft to prevent her from testifying against them . Though multiple people (including Mary) have claimed that the witchcraft accusations are false, the court refuses to be swayed.

What does Mr Putnam want that motivates him to go along with the accusations?

Motivation: 1. Save his wife ; he feels responsible to her accusation. 2. He wants to preserve his farm for his family.

Who is the most responsible for the events in The Crucible?

There are three people depicted in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible that are most responsible for this and they are, Abigail Williams , Judge Danforth, and Thomas Putnam. Abigail Williams is mostly responsible for the Salem witch trials because she was the first person to start accusing innocent people of witchcraft.

Why is Abigail the most to blame in The Crucible?

The characters in the play that are most to blame are Abigail and Danforth because Abigail makes false accusations throughout the whole play , she causes all the hysteria that feeds the witch trials, and Danforth fails to act to stop the hysteria. ...

What triggers mass hysteria?

What Causes Mass Hysteria? In many cases, hysteria is triggered by an environmental incident — such as contamination of the water supply — that causes people to literally worry themselves sick over getting sick, even though they’re otherwise perfectly healthy.

What are the symptoms of hysteria?

  • Shortness of breath.
  • Anxiety.
  • Fainting.
  • Nervousness.
  • Insomnia.
  • Sexual forwardness.
  • Irritability.
  • Agitation.

What are the consequences of mass hysteria?

Mass hysteria can have enormous public health costs in terms of psychological stress, anxiety , and even physical symptoms. To these costs must be added indirect adverse health effects from alcoholism, suicides, or damage from deferred treatment and delayed recognition of illness.

How is hysteria shown in the crucible Act 4?

Hysteria in Act 4

In Act four, John refuses to sign a paper for his confession of the fear of his name being diminished . ... Tell them I confessed myself; say Proctor broke his knees and wept like a woman; say what you will, but my name cannot-“(Miller 143) This is because of his fear of his name being ruined.

Who caused the most hysteria in the crucible Act 1?

In act 1, Betty Parris is described as “calling out hysterically” when she awakes. She, Abigail , and Tituba are all apparently enraptured and hysterical at this point, as they begin their accusations, though we may assume that Abigail, at any rate, is feigning her hysteria.

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.