Unit 2 Writing Task

You have just read a play about mass hysteria and a community's response to it. You have also listened to an audio performance of Act I of that play, which brought the characters and their collective fears to life.

In The Crucible, rumors spread across Salem and the result is mass hysteria in the community. Use your knowledge of The Crucible to write a brief argumentative essay in which you state and defend your position on this question:

Could any of the characters in The Crucible have done more to end the hysteria in Salem?

As you prepare to write your essay, first choose a position and state a claim. Then, develop and support that claim with quotations and examples from the text, as well as information about mass hysteria from secondary sources.

For a model of a well-crafted argumentative essay, see the Launch Text, "Is It Foolish to Fear?"

Questions to Consider

• How might someone put an end to mass hysteria in a situation like the one that unfolds in The Crucible?

• Which character or characters in The Crucible would be most capable of ending the hysteria? Why?

Possible Argument Frame

In discussions of Arthur Miller's The Crucible, one question that comes up is whether or not any of the characters could have done more to end the hysteria in Salem. On the one hand, (one side of the argument). On the other hand, (opposite side of the argument).  My own view is...

In The Crucible, the mass hysteria in Salem could have been brought to an end if…

When considering the characters in The Crucible, one could argue that certain individuals had the potential to stop the hysteria by…

To effectively put an end to the mass hysteria in The Crucible, it would have required the intervention of a character who possessed the qualities of...

Exemplary Response:

In The Crucible, several characters could have done more to end the hysteria in Salem. The mass hysteria depicted in The Crucible reveals the destructive power of unfounded rumors and collective fears. While some characters in the play make valiant efforts to put an end to the hysteria, there are others who could have done more to quell the chaos. This essay will argue that several characters, including John Proctor, Reverend Hale, and Judge Danforth, had the capability to end the hysteria in Salem but failed to take decisive action.

One character who could have done more to end the hysteria is John Proctor. Despite his reservations, Proctor ultimately chooses to remain silent about his affair with Abigail Williams, the main instigator of the witchcraft accusations. If Proctor had exposed Abigail's deceit early on and provided evidence of her manipulation, the townspeople may have questioned the validity of her claims. By choosing not to speak out, Proctor allowed the hysteria to persist.

Another character with the potential to end the hysteria is Reverend Hale. Initially, Reverend Hale arrives in Salem as a knowledgeable and objective investigator. However, as the play progresses, he becomes complicit in the hysteria by blindly accepting the testimony of the accusers. If Hale had taken a more critical approach and thoroughly questioned the validity of the accusations, he could have exposed the hysteria for what it was - a result of personal vendettas and manipulation.

Judge Danforth, the presiding judge in the witch trials, also bears responsibility for failing to end the hysteria. Despite mounting evidence of the accusers' deceitfulness, Danforth refuses to acknowledge their ulterior motives. If Danforth had been willing to reconsider his position and listen to the pleas of those accused, he could have prevented further harm and put an end to the mass hysteria in Salem.

Some may argue that the characters in The Crucible were trapped in a web of fear and manipulation and were unable to see the truth. While it is true that fear played a significant role in the perpetuation of the hysteria, the characters mentioned above had moments of clarity and could have acted differently.

In conclusion, several characters in The Crucible had the potential to end the mass hysteria in Salem but failed to do so. John Proctor, Reverend Hale, and Judge Danforth all had opportunities to challenge the accusations and expose the manipulative nature of the hysteria. Their inaction allowed the hysteria to flourish, resulting in the tragic consequences that unfolded throughout the play.

Non-Exemplary Response:

The characters in The Crucible could not have done anything to end the hysteria in Salem.

The Crucible is a play about mass hysteria in Salem, but the characters could not have done anything to stop it. They were all afraid and didn't know what to do.

The characters in The Crucible were scared and confused. They were being accused of witchcraft and didn't know how to defend themselves. They were helpless and couldn't have stopped the hysteria from spreading.

Even if the characters had spoken out against the accusations, it wouldn't have made a difference. The people of Salem were already caught up in the frenzy, and no one would have listened to reason. It was a lose-lose situation for the characters.

In conclusion, the characters in The Crucible couldn't have done anything to end the hysteria because they were scared and didn't know what to do. Even if they had spoken out, nobody would have listened. It was a hopeless situation.