Hysteria

1. Hysteria Lewis, Johnstone, Jonny and Milly.

2. What is Hysteria? • Hysteria is defined as a state where a person’s emotions become overwhelming and prompt them to act in strange ways.

3. Hysteria in The Crucible • Hysteria is a huge part in prompting the extreme behaviour in The Crucible. • Hysteria’s influence is felt strongest in the courtroom of Salem, where people break all of their previous moral standards and condemn those who were previously friends.

4. The Yellow Bird • After Elizabeth claims that John was not unfaithful to her, Abigail claims that Mary Warren has turned into a yellow bird and is attacking her. • This highlights the theme of hysteria as virtually everyone in the courtroom, the girls and the other citizen’s alike take in Abigail’s story as truth, highlighting that they are not thinking clearly.

5. Connotations of Yellow • Yellow is a colour that is typically referred to in literature as signifying cowardice or ‘snitching’ on others – exactly what Abigail believes Mary was doing. • This could also refer to the way that those in the court are highly passive and wish to be led, a reflection on the Salem society.

6. Martha Corey being Tried • At the beginning of act three, Martha Corey is being tried on suspicion of reading fortunes, an awful sin in Salemite society. • As Martha is being tried, the people of the town routinely shout and jeer while Giles Corey is giving evidence to save his wife.

7. Effect of Martha’s Trial • The crowd's reaction highlights that the people of Salem see the trials as some bizarre cabaret act, showing the theme of hysteria as the entire town has been emotionally compromised by the acts of these children, heightening the impression of hysteria given by Miller.

8. The First Mass Calling Out • Soon after the arrival of the reverend Hale, the girls make their first large scale calling out. • The girls start with accusing those weak in the Salem society and eventually move into targets that are higher in the Salemite hierarchy.

9. Effect of the Mass Calling Out • The mass calling out presents the most dramatic representation of hysteria as the act ends upon the screams of the girls – this highlights the sheer mass of emotions that are corrupting the girls and a parallel can be drawn to the hysteria of the Salem society also.

10. In Closing • Hysteria is one of the most vital parts of the Crucible and it’s a concept that goes through the play. • Hysteria is felt most strongly whenever the girls are involved due to the great power that they exert over Salem – due to their theological society and their naivety.