Could The Crucible Happen Again

The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is a historical novel that details how hysteria overwhelms the small devout town of Salem, Massachusetts after local girls are caught performing a pagan ritual. Knowing that this act could incur death in their pious community, these girls accuse their fellow town members of being witches to convince others that they have forsaken the devil and have returned to the Lord. Miller uses the Salem witch-hunt to demonstrate the devastating effects of paranoia. During the Salem witch trials, this paranoia eventually led to the death of 37 innocent people (“Salem,” par. 2) as rational citizens under the influence of the pervasive fear ignored the injustices being committed. History has shown that given the right atmosphere, any spark could set off a chain reaction much like that described in The Crucible.
The atmosphere of the fanatically religious town of Salem was a breeding ground for fear and suspicion. The minister, Parris, “[preaches] only ...