Hysteria In The Crucible

Over time the definition of hysteria has been altered. Long ago it was believed to be a medical condition thought only to affect women. Symptoms of the illness included partial paralysis, hallucinations and nervousness. In the late 1800’s and through today, it is looked at as a psychological disorder (“Hysteria”). Merriam-Webster defines it as a state in which emotions (such as fear) are so strong that can cause someone to behave in an uncontrolled way(Webster). Hysteria can influence the way people act and think. Throughout time hysteria has developed in numerous situations. In some cases the effects are so substantial that they have become significant aspects in history. For example, the Salem Witch Trials, as told in Arthur Miller’s The
Another historical event is the Holocaust. Some psychologists believe hysteria could be to blame for both of these events. Regardless, hysteria has played a crucial role in both the Holocaust and the Salem Witch Trials, as told in Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible.

1692 Salem, Massachusetts was the home to many Puritans. A puritan was someone with strict religious beliefs. They wanted to keep their community free from the devil so they banned anything that could possibly encourage them to fall into Satan’s evil ways. The people could not take part in most leisurely activities. The Puritans lived their lives for God, and they did not want anything to interfere with their beliefs. For the Puritans, “Part of their belief system was the idea that Satan lurks everywhere: in the wilderness, in Native Americans, even in neighboring colonies and among rival religious groups such as the Quakers”(“The Salem Witch Trials”). Puritans believed the devil could be found in
The strict Puritan community of Salem influenced a great deal. For example, “All in all, 72 people were accused and brought to trial; 19 were hanged. The rest confessed to avoid execution”(“The Salem Witch Trials”). Victim’s lives as well as their families were changed forever. Whenever another person was hanged, another family was broken apart. The people who confessed had to live with that the rest of their lives. The play states, “To all intents and purposes, the power of theocracy in Massachusetts was broken”(Miller 146). The Salem Witch Trials were the end of Puritanism. After seeing what happened, people did not want to participate in the Puritan church, so they left and the religion