Andrew Palmer

4 November, 2015
Period 4
Griffin
The Fear That Destroyed Salem
During the Cold War, Arthur Miller wrote the Crucible as an allegory of McCarthyism
when the government started blacklisting people they deemed communist. During the late
1600s, a mass hysteria occurred in Salem Massachusetts that caused many innocent people to
be executed. Abigail Williams, the niece of Reverend Parris, and Danforth, the deputy governor,
possess fear that contributes the most to the hysteria of the Salem witch trials.
Abigails fear of being accused of witchcraft causes her to to make irrational decisions
and tell lies that ultimately ended many lives. During an integration between Abigail, Hale, And
Parris, Hale begins to question Abigail about the night Parris saw naked women dancing in the
woods. During the integration Hale asks Abigail Did you call the devil last night?(44). Abigail
fears this because shes afraid of being accused of witchcraft and hanging. After Hale says this,
Abigail begins to lie shifting the accusations onto others to save herself from being called a
witch and hanging. Abigail, acknowledging the accusation of witchcraft says I never called him!
Tituba, Tituba(44). This quote demonstrates how when put under pressure Abigail begins to
panic and accuse anyone she can to save herself from being called a witch. Her fear contributes
to the hysteria by scaring the people about the devil can possess anyone. This even scares the
judges of the church which caused them to listen to Abigails absurd accusations.
Danforths fear of the citizens realizing his mistake of killing innocent people causes him
to continue hanging innocent people in hopes of gaining respect from the rest of the citizens.
During Martha Coreys, the wife of Giles Corey, interrogation, Giles Corey, an outstanding landowning farmer, says I have evidence for the court (88). Danforth conveys fear when Giles
attempts to reveal his evidence to the people. Due to Giles outstanding reputation, Danforth

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fears people will take notice to his words and form a riot against himself. He fears they will
realize that the accused people who were hanged were innocent, and inevitably lose all respect
for him. To stop Giles, Danforth says Remove that man (88). This quote demonstrates how
Danforth will ignore any evidence that proves witchcraft did not occur in Salem, even if it can
save lives, he will ignore it in order to save his own reputation.
The fear of both Abigail and Danforth have significantly changed the outcomes of the
hysteria of Salem. Abigail demonstrates her fear when under accusations of the court by lying to
avoid being hanged. Danforths fears are displayed when he refuses to accept any evidence
that proves that the people hanged were innocent and the whole hysteria was hoax. Therefore
through their fears, both characters ultimately change the outcomes of the hysteria negatively.