Fear in itself is something to be feared. Fear is the primary source of insanity and chaos. Fear alone sent the Puritan society of Salem, Massachusetts into a state of utter hysteria in the year 1692, when one of the world's most infamous witch hunts occurred. Arthur Millers play, The Crucible, is a historical fiction depicting the events of the Salem Witch Trials. A witch hunt is a political campaign launched on the pretext of investigating activities subversive to the state. Every witch hunt is identifiable by the five key elements; the use of a scapegoat, a struggle to maintain moral order, a subversive character or group, an outbreak of hysteria and panic, and ulterior motives that provide justification for people’s actions. 249 some-odd years later, another group of innocent people face acts of discriminative hostility. In the early 1940’s, Nazi Germany started a war against the Jews in attempts to wide the race from earth. History repeats itself, as society fails to learn from the tragic results of its faults and errors. Both Arthur Millers play, The Crucible and the groundless mass-murder of Jewish people in the Holocaust demonstrate how fear can result in violent conflict and uncontrolled chaos.
Panic is the direct result of fear. 17-year-old Abigail Williams, niece of the town's reverend, initiates The Crucible witch-hunt. Abby and her friends are afraid that as a result of their dancing in the woods past nightfall there will be consequence. What begins as a plot of attaining the desired affection of her adolescent infatuation, results in the ruthless massacre of innocent Salem citizens accused of practicing immoral witchcraft. After false and mocked illness and bewitched behavior, Abigail admits herself to consorting with Satan. However she quickly shifts the blame by randomly accusing others: “I want to open myself! . . . I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus! I danced for the Devil; I saw