The Theme Of Fear In The Crucible - 940 Words

American Musician John Mellencamp was quoted as saying, â€Å"When you live in Hysteria, people start thinking emotionally† which is exemplified thoroughly in The Crucible. Hysteria is defined as- exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitement, especially among a group of people. During a time of despair or crisis, people rely on their primal instincts rather than their moral views or opinions. Emotions become more powerful and overwhelming in times of â€Å"hysteria† than any other situation. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, Miller uses the theme of hysteria as the deeper meaning of the novel to argue that fear can be manipulated to influence decisions, fabricate false evidence, and keep power. These three main ideas are developed throughout†¦show more content†¦The outrageous performances and confessions of the accusers cause people to believe they have tangible evidence of witchcraft in Salem. As a product of these performances, those people who dispute the allegations against them are disposed as their evidence wasn’t as appealing. A dramatic performance was exemplified in Act II when a doll was found in the Proctor household with a needle in its stomach area. When Elizabeth attempted to defend herself, her side of the story was disregarded. Abigail’s â€Å"proof† of Elizabeth’s wrongdoing was far more dramatic. â€Å"The girl, the Williams girl, Abigail Williams, sir. She sat to dinner in Reverend Parris’s house tonight, and without word nor warnin’ she falls to the floor. Like a struck beast, he says, and screamed a scream that a bull would weep to hear. And he goes to save her, and, stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly, he draw a needle out.† (Miller 64) In this quote, Abigail’s plan to become Proctor’s wife is coming into effect. If Elizabeth is accused of witchcraft, then Abigail felt Proctor would make her his wife. To make this happen, she hides a doll with a needle in it inside the Proctor household. While at dinner with Reverend Parris, Abigail falls to the floor in agony, and then proceeds to stab herself with a needle, this giving the impression that Goody Proctor is at fault for the stabbing. The very fact that Abigail would go this far to steal someone else’s husband shows how hysteriaShow MoreRelatedTheme Of Fear In The Crucible1277 Words   |  6 Pages American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, â€Å"Fear defeats more people than any other one thing on the world†. The Salem Witch Trials were were a classic example of scapegoating. This book started off in an small bedroom of a man named Reverend Samuel Parris. He lived in Salem, Massachusetts in the year of 1692, where people have been accused as witches and families snitch on each other in the fear of if they do not they would be hanged too. Three young girl was caught acting weird and was sentencedRead MoreThe Crucible: How Is It Relevant to Todays Society? Essay823 Words   |  4 PagesThe Crucible is a complex and intriguing novel with events, characters and themes comparable to almost every period of human history. It is common for humans to fear change and what is unknown, in the play The Crucible this is witchcraft and the devil, in more recent times it can be seen in post World War Two and Cold War United States, through McCarthyism. The themes in the crucible are as important to people in the 21st century as in Salem in 1692. These include justice, reputation, hysteria, intoleranceRead MoreTelevision Interview : The Crucible 1118 Words   |  5 PagesProctor in the movie, â€Å"The Crucible†. Tell us briefly about your role. D: Well, I play the role of John Proctor, Elizabeth’s husband, as a local farmer who is a stern, harsh-tongued man of high social standing and integrity and who hates hypocrisy. He is a proud man who places great emphasis on his reputation in society. ABC: As in most plays and movies, there are important themes represented. What are some of these in the movie? D: Well, there are several themes that we can relate toRead MoreEssay about The Fear of the Noose in The Crucible by Arthur Miller713 Words   |  3 Pages As one experience’s fear each day, it begins to enhance and branch out towards everyone around them. This is the issue in the book The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Arthur Miller establishes a period in the American history known as the Salem witch trials of 1692. It is a well built Puritan society in which the citizens are bonded with the church. During this time McCarthyism was in play, it was the anti-communist suspicions into the U.S. The theme in the story The Crucible was honesty and truth versusRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1269 Words   |  6 PagesAt first glance, the playwright Arthur Miller in The Crucible highlights the historical significance of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, but in fact it is an allegorical expression of his perception of McCarthyism. If the reader has some background information on A rthur Miller’s victimization as a communist, it is evident that the play is a didactic vessel illustrating the flaws of the court system in the 1950’s. The communist allegations were launched at government employees, entertainers and writersRead MoreThe Lord of the Flies by William Golding776 Words   |  3 Pagesnovel Lord of the Flies presents the themes of evil and sin as an innate, inevitable and negative feature throughout the novel, similar to the play The Crucible. William Golding uses Lord of the Flies as an allegory to present evil and sin through different symbols within the novel, with boys being trapped on an island. Arthur Miller presents evil and sin through a contextual, Puritan society within various characters. Even though both writers present these themes, Golding presents it in the lack ofRead MoreHysteria And Lies In The Crucible Analysis946 Words   |  4 PagesYoung English 11CP 22 October 2017 Hysteria and Lies and Deceit The Crucible â€Å"Those who lie, twist life so that it looks tasty to the lazy, brilliant to the ignorant, and powerful to the weak.†-Jose N. Harris. Arthur Miller the author of the play called The Crucible sets in the town of Salem, Massachusetts which was populated by the Puritans who hanged twenty innocent people in 1692. Miller wants to make the point that the theme of Lies and Deceits makes people lie to benefit themselves which couldRead MoreThe Themes Of Mccarthyism In The Crucible By Arthur Miller1685 Words   |  7 Pagesaccuse others to save oneself. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller emphasizes mass hysteria caused by people accusing innocent people to save oneself from death. Even though the Salem witch trials and the McCarthyism era took place in different time periods, they both show the reoccurring theme of chaos caused by lying and accusing others to save oneself. The Crucible, which illustrates the time during the Salem witch trials parallels McCarthyism because of the simil ar theme during both time periods, Miller’sRead MoreThe Overall Theme Of Hysteria In The Crucible By Arthur Miller722 Words   |  3 PagesI believe the overall theme of the play The Crucible centers around hysteria. Arthur Miller mentions in his essay â€Å"Why I Wrote the Crucible† the presence of fear and desperation in the wartime days that â€Å"formed The Crucible’s skeleton†. Arthur goes to hint at the similarity of â€Å"liberals who, despite their discomfort with the inquisitors’ violations of civil rights, were fearful, and with good reason, of being identified as covert Communists if they should protest too strongly†¦Ã¢â‚¬  to the villagersRead MorePersuasive Speech for the Inclusion of The Crucible in the 2013 Play Season of the Queensland Theatre Company1084 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿The Crucible Persuasive Speech Greetings to you all; thank you all for taking the time to hear my arguments and for considering my suggestion for the inclusion of The Crucible in the 2013 play season of the Queensland Theatre Company. My understanding is that the companys intent is to pursue the culture of fear as the overarching theme for this years selection of plays. This is an ideal theme because we are, unfortunately, living in a time of great fear and distrust, with good reason considering