Examples Of Fear In The Crucible

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Nolen Nareedokmai Mrs. Reynolds 9/29/15 American Lit. The Crucible—a Deadly Experiment of Fear Hysteria by definition is a noun that means “exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitement, especially among a group of people”. We see humans express these traits during times of panic and fear. A prime example of hysteria would be the Salem witch trials. This event occurred in colonial America and was caused by the fear of witchcraft and satanic worship. In the play The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, we can observe townspeople convict others of witchcraft because they feared death themselves. Within the play, three characters play a huge role in which they take the lives of the innocent. The characters Abigail Williams, Reverend John Hale, and…show more content…
Hale emerged in act I when he is summoned to observe reverend Paris’s daughter Betty. “SUSANNA, craning around Parris to get a look at Betty: He [the doctor] bid me come and tell you, reverend sir, that he cannot discover no medicine for it in his books. PARRIS: Then he must search on. SUSANNA: Aye, sir, he have been searchin’ his books since he left you, sir. But he bid me tell you, that you might look to unnatural things for the cause of it. PARRIS, his eyes going wide: No—no. There be no unnatural case here. Tell him I have sent for Reverend Hale of Beverly, and Mr. Hale will surely confirm that. let him look to medicine and put out all thought of unnatural causes here. There be none.” (I.31-34) This is an example of how reverend Hale was summoned by Paris. He then in the early play is the driving force behind the witch trials, interrogating the convicted and advising the innocent to confess to devil worship. Hale takes pride in his intelligence in witchcraft, and because of his advice in telling the innocent to testify, he sends many to their deaths. “HALE: Excellency, I have signed seventy-two death warrants; I am a minister of the Lord, and I dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it. DANFORTH: Mr. Hale, you surely do not doubt my justice. HALE: I have this…show more content…
He is by far the most selfish character in the play and because of his selfishness, he causes some innocents to die. In the first act, we see Paris call Reverend Hale to the bedside of his sick daughter to investigate witchcraft, beginning the whole witch trial ordeal. He does this not to see if she is sick, but so if she was by any chance a witch, he could take steps to save his status in the church. “SUSANNA, craning around Parris to get a look at Betty: He [the doctor] bid me come and tell you, reverend sir, that he cannot discover no medicine for it in his books. PARRIS: Then he must search on. SUSANNA: Aye, sir, he have been searchin’ his books since he left you, sir. But he bid me tell you, that you might look to unnatural things for the cause of it. PARRIS, his eyes going wide: No—no. There be no unnatural case here. Tell him I have sent for Reverend Hale of Beverly, and Mr. Hale will surely confirm that. let him look to medicine and put out all thought of unnatural causes here. There be none.” (I.31-34) This is an example of how Paris only cares for his reputation. We also see Paris try to save his reputation by casting the blame upon others. “MRS. PUTNAM: Reverend Parris, I have laid seven babies unbaptized in the earth. Believe me, sir, you never saw more hearty babies born. And yet, each would wither in my arms the very night of their birth. I have spoke nothin', but my

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