Mass hysteria is a condition affecting a group of persons, characterized by excitement or anxiety, irrational behavior or belief, or inexplicable symptoms of illness(dictionary.com). The play The Crucible by Arthur Miller perfectly exemplifies the phenomenon of mass hysteria. The way all the girls feed of what Abigail is doing, the townspeople’s reactions, and the inability of the court to think reasonably all are examples of mass hysteria.
The way that all the girls in town follow what Abigail is doing fits the definition of mass hysteria perfectly. Mary warren explains how she got caught up in the hysteria Abigail created when she says “I heard the other girls screaming, and you, Your Honor, you seemed to believe