Hysteria in The Crucible (Play Analysis)

The play “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller is a dramatic play about the Salem witch trials. The play focuses on an affair between John Proctor and Abigail Williams. Abigail is still in love with John Proctor so she uses the trials as a leverage against John. During this process she accuses many innocent women and unfortunately many are killed. The play takes the reader through the journey of a town that continues to worsen its own situation. A major reason for the town falling into shambles is the hysteria that drives the storyline. This hysteria is expressed through Arthur Miller's brilliant characterization of the characters. As the play progresses this hysteria causes the characters to perform many irrational acts. 

A character that is mainly affected by the hysteria in the town is Abigail Williams. She is a selfish, bold, and devious character. Abigail is constantly manipulating her peers, with an end goal of winning John Proctor back. One of her drastic ideas to win John back is to get John's wife, Elizabeth, accused of witchcraft. If she accomplishes this goal Elizabeth would most likely hang; providing a chance for Abigail to secure John as a husband. These illogical actions are filled by Abigail's ongoing hysteria. An example of this extreme behavior is when Abigail stabs herself with a needle to try to frame Elizabeth as a witch. “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.” (pg 1282). As evident, this was a completely unnecessary and excessive act that was carried out as a result of hysteria. Another example of Abigail's groundless actions is when she pretended that she was seeing a bird spirit. Abigail did this in a desperate act to frame Marry Warren of witchcraft. Abigail was screaming and putting on quite the show out of this hysteria. “Abigail, to the ceiling, in a genuine conversation with the “bird,” as though trying to talk it out of attracting her” (pg 1312). This quote shows how Abigail has been so consumed by the trials, that she will go to extreme lengths to fake the people around her. This is a major point of characterization that directly connects to the central idea. In conclusion, Abigail, is a fonaminal example of how characterization directly develops the irrational actions that are based from hysteria in “The Crucible”.

Reverend Parris is a character that is driven by maintaining his reputation and wealth. He is a very controversial persona among the townspeople of Salem. The logic behind this controversy is Parris’s constant desire for an untarnished reputation. An example of this embarrassing behavior was when Parris’s daughter, Betty, had become ill. Instead of comforting his daughter, Parris is scrambling to try and  make sure that no word gets out about possible witchcraft. He is scared of the possibility that people will use this information against him therefore, damaging his reputation. “But if trafficked with the spirits in the forest I must know it now, for surel my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it.” (pg 568). This quote directly characterizes Parris as a selfish and greedy character. This knowledge guides the reader directly to connect characterization to the central idea. An additional case of this hysteria was when Parris suggested postponing the witch trials. This is a very bold statement of Parris as he has been a strong advocate for the witchcraft trials. This idea is a result of the hysteria that has taken over Parris. The trials have gotten so extreme that he realizes that what he has been contributing to is unethical and broken. This causes him to panic and make a statement that he would never say under normal circumstances. “Excellency, I would postpone these hanging’s for a time” (pg 1322). The characterization of Parris that is developed in the beginning of the story greatly contributes to this statement of Parris being viewed as very irrational. Parris demonstrates this advanced characterization through the plot of the book therefore, immensely supplying the reader with the means to develop the theme that hysteria can lead to irrational actions.

Throughout “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller the characters make irrational decisions as a result of hysteria. This theme is greatly developed throughout the plot by the literary device of characterization. Abigail, a manipulative character demonstrates this theme through her self harming and convincing acting. Another example of a character expressing this hysteria is Reverend Parris who cares more about his reputation than his own daughter, and trying to postpone an event that he himself encouraged and advanced from the start. These actions are greatly supported by the character's characterization that is developed throughout the story. This characterization of Abigail and Parris demonstrates that people can be taken over by hysteria and this causes them to make irrational decisions.