The Infectious Nature of Mass Hysteria by Oskar Mariussen

Page 13.

oskarmariussen — 2024-11-07 08:23:08 UTC

Parris: No, Goody Putnam, it is--

Mrs. Putnam: How high did she fly, how high?

Parris: No, no she never flew--

Mrs. Putnam: Why, it's sure she did. Mr. Collins saw her goin' over Ingersoll's barn, and come down light as bird, he says!

The infectious effect is shown by a wave in, by how once the rumor of witchcraft started there was no question about if there was evidence or not.

Hale to Danforth page 99

2024-11-11 12:45:59 UTC

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"

This shows how the panic has spread throughout Salem and how quick the townsfolk were to assume people were witches.

page 122

graphiteeater — 2024-11-11 12:48:36 UTC

Tituba: as Sarah drinks: were goin' to Barbados, soon the devil gits here with the feathers and the wings.

Herrick: oh? a happy voyage to you.

Sarah good: A pair of bluebirds wingin' southerly, the two of us! oh, it be a grand transformation, Marshall

the excerpt above shows this infectious nature of hysteria through a more personal angle, where Sarah Good gets lulled into a lie of being saved by the devil with "a pair of bluebirds wingin'". almost as if admitting she is guilty, even though it is abundantly clear that it is not the case.

Hale and Danforth page 98

2024-11-11 12:58:15 UTC

Hale: "There is a prodigous fear of this court in the country"

Danforth: "Then there is a prodigous guilt in the country"

Hale grows more paniced while trying to convince Danforth that they need to stop condeming people and Danforth leans into the hysteria and believes that all scared of the court are guilty of some crime

the consequences of mass hysteria

graphiteeater — 2024-11-11 12:58:57 UTC

the consequences of mass hysteria as shown in The Crucible are a poisoning of law and order caused by fear and paranoia. further more social dynamics also become more strained.

in the case of The Crucible and the Salem witch trials it is based on this irrational fear with roots in religious zealousness is taken to its absolute extreme, were the courts of Salem are trying to frame people for imagined danger with flimsy to no evidence. leading to opportunists abusing the fear found in the system to get what they want. significant examples of this are Abigail and the Putnams.

Hale to Danforth page 114

oskarmariussen — 2024-11-11 13:03:59 UTC

Hale: "Excellency, it is a natural lie to tell; I beg you, stop now before another is condemned! I may shut my conscience to it no more--private vengeance is working through this testimony! From the beginning this man has struck me true. By my oath to Heaven, I believe him now, and i pray you call back his wife before we--"

Realizing his mistake by following the flow of hysteria and tries a last effort to save another life, this proves ineffective as Danforth is already convinced to punish the so called "witch"

Page 127, Parris to Danforth

2024-11-11 13:11:46 UTC

"Mark it, sir, Abigail had close knowledge of the town, and since the news of Andover has broken here-"

This shows that hysteria has spread all the way to Andover, causing a rebellion against the court. Leading to Andover throwing out the court and saying that they will have no part of witchcraft. Additionally, they are not panicking because of the witches since the court is executing everyone, leading to people fearing the court.