Topic > The Impact of Mass Hysteria on the Community in The Crucible

Throughout history mass hysteria is something that has been destructive within a community and still is. In Aruthur Miller's play, The Crucible, it is based on true events in the Salem Massachusetts witch trials in 1692. Aruther Miller's play allows us readers to realize the situation in which Aruther Miller put hysteria mass in a puritan society. Throughout his play the people in the play decided to confess witchcraft to all one person's people which started mass hysteria. Furthermore, with mass hysteria came many sins and darkness throughout history. Through the use of conflict Arthur Miller shows how mass hysteria will affect the community in a negative way. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Throughout history, the conflict has allowed us to fully understand how mass hysteria can affect an entire community in a negative way so quickly and out of nowhere. A conflict arose in Salem which affected the people and the community which also resulted in mass hysteria. For example, “There is a foggy conspiracy afoot so subtle that we should be criminals if we cling to old respects and old friendships. I have seen too much frightening evidence in court that the Devil is alive in Salem, and we dare not hesitate to follow him wherever the accusing finger points!” This quote allows Hale to demonstrate his mindset towards the character and how they are influenced by fear and mass hysteria. His inner conflict, Haleś's conflict with himself makes him doubt mass hysteria. However, it is more about hysteria than fear because in reality he is not afraid of being accused of witchcraft but he allowed himself to be convinced by the "frightening evidence" he saw and this blinded him. The “appalling evidence” allows Hale to realize that every possible reason the witchcraft accusations could be fabricated. Also, "I never had a wife who was fond of books, and I thought I'd find the cause, disee, but it wasn't any witch I blamed her for" ̈. This quote created conflict between Giles and the accusers because Giles never intended to accuse his wife of witchcraft, nor was she committing the crime of witchcraft. Conflict has allowed us to understand mass hysteria throughout history. For example, «in a common crime, how does the accused defend himself? One calls witnesses to prove his innocence. But witchcraft is ipso facto, in appearance and by its nature, an invisible crime, is it not? Who then can witness it? The witch and the victim. Nobody else. Now we cannot hope that the witch will accuse herself; granted? We therefore have to rely on his victim and they testify, the children certainly testify. As for witches, no one will deny that we are very anxious about all their confessions. So what remains for a lawyer to reveal? I think I've made my point. It is not true?'. This quote allows Danforth to show us how serious its effect is on the actual belief in witchcraft. Danforth does not believe that these people are trustworthy and involves himself in another conflict of doubts about who to believe and whether what is happening is real. Throughout the story mass hysteria affects society in a negative way throughout the community because it can infect everyone and drive them crazy, this has been shown throughout the story using many examples of conflict.