The Final Act

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From the start, there were problems in Salem. Everyone was bored and nobody was happy. It was hard for the selfish people to be content with what they had, so they tried to steal from others. They weren’t just going to kill someone and take it, so they found a new way to get what they wanted without getting blood on their hands. The first people to come up with this strategy were some of the children living in Salem. Betty: “You did, you did! You drank a charm to kill John Proctor’s wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!”(Miller 19) This charm was an act done by someone performing witchcraft. This was the method the children of Salem were using to try murdering anyone that they disliked. Eventually, it took hold. People were shouting witch about anyone that displeased them. Finally, after many had died and lives had been ruined, someone finally realized what must be done to stop these hysterical acts. The one person who discovered the method to stop the witchcraft was John Proctor. He helped change everyone around him when he realized that confessing would give witchcraft a meaning. By the end of act IV he had given up and decided to die with what dignity he had left. John Proctor: “I can. And there’s your first marvel, that I can. You have made your magic now, for now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor. . .”(Miller 144)

This sacrifice made by John, and many others who chose to die for their souls, was the one act that showed there could be hope for Salem. This is all portrayed in the last scene of the story, when John tells everyone to be strong as they march to their deaths. John Proctor: “Give them no tear! Tears pleasure them! Show honor now, show a stony heart and sink them with it!”(Miller 144) John is not the only one in this scene that portrays strength. Rebecca: “Let you fear nothing! Another judgment waits us all!”(Miller 144) Between the deaths of these two people, there is almost no hope for the survival of witchcraft in Salem. The two of them were well thought of in this little town and their deaths would not be taken lightly. These losses were the last bit of suffering Salem could take. I only wish people would have come to the realization before so many innocent people had to blacken their names or die for their God.

Reverend Hale

Hale is a Reverend of a town near Salem. He originaly came to Salem to see if any of the sick children there were afflicted by witchcraft. "Does someone afflict you, child? It need not be a woman, mind you, or a man. Perhaps some bird invisible to others comes to you-perhaps a pig, a mouse, or any beast at all. Is there some figure bids you fly?. . ." (Miller 41) Hale is looking for a curse on the children. He doesn't seem to think anything could be wrong other than that. No one ever mentions anything related to the children faking their illnesses.

Later, Hale realizes that the children crying out against people in the town might be faking it. He comes to the sudden realization of lying children to late. No matter what he says, Danforth and Parris will not listen to him. Hale is the one person in the story to change and he changes for the better. When trying to convince Danforth, he is silenced. "Excellency, this child's gone wild!" (Miller 119) Saying everything he can against the children isn't enough. Saying anything to save innocent lives shows that Hale has changed to be a better man. Even though many of the accused are going to die bearing grudges, atleast one person has changed for the better.

Mass Hysteria and Believeing Your Own Lies

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People in Salem believed that witches were capable of nearly anything. Some people believed a witch could use her spirit to harm another person. Abigail was stabbed in the stomach with a needle. Instead of coming to the conclusion that Abigail could have stabber herself, everyone is talking about how it must be witchcraft. This quote shows the thoughts of the person in charge of putting the women in jail. Cheever: “‘Tis hard proof! I find here a poppet Good Proctor keeps. I have found it, sir. And in the belly of the poppet a needle’s stuck. I tell you true, Proctor, I never warranted to see such proof of Hell, and I bid you obstruct me not, for I-” (Miller 75) This clearly shows that Cheever is quick to jump to witchcraft and has no intentions of considering any other possibility.

Another person roaming Salem is a man named Hale. He originally came to prove to the town that Parris’s daughter was not affiliated with witchcraft. By this point, Hale is doing more to convince people that there are witches than to show that there aren’t. This quote by Hale shows his accusations to the people of Salem about the witchcraft being from the wrath of God.  Hale: “Proctor, I cannot think God be provoked so grandly by such a petty cause. The jails are packed – our greatest judges sit in Salem now – and hangin’s promised. Man, we must look to cause proportionate. Were there murder done, perhaps, and never brought to light? Abomination? Some secret blasphemy that stinks to Heaven? Think on cause, man, and let you help me to discover it. For there’s your way, believe it, there is your only way, when such confusion strikes upon the world. Let you counsel among yourselves; think on your village and what may have drawn from heaven such a thundering wrath upon you all. I shall pray God open up our eyes.” (Miller 79) Hale is blaming everyone for the witchcraft instead of helping them move past their sins.

The Crucible

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It's spring in the year 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts. What seemed to be a quiet little town has been turned nearly upside down at the thought of witches living in the community. It seems anyone can be accused of witchcraft without solid evidence. Even the children of the pastor, Samuel Parris, are being affected. People have claimed to see children flying over barns and naked women running through the forest. Those found guilty of witchcraft will be put to death. All anyone can hope for is that they aren't accused of being witches themselves. It's just a matter of time before someone is accused and sentenced to death.

Mass Hysteria

http://www.steinski.com/blog/a-few-examples-of-mass-hysteria-in-us-history/

Lynching 1860-1960

In the south, if a black man was accused of so little as looking at a white woman, he was at risk of being taken from his home, mutilated by a mob, lynched, and burnt. People were proud to live in areas where black people were at risk of being lynched.
Definition: "an uncontrollable outburst of emotion or fear, often characterized by irrationality, laughter, weeping, etc." (reference.com)