Question

The Puritans were taught to repress (or hold in) their individual emotions. Consider the different emotions, fears, and motives of the characters in Act 1. How might a repression of emotions have influenced their behaviors and the hysteria that erupts at the end of the scene in which Tituba and Abby confess? Explain.

Answer 1

The repression of individual emotions within Puritan society likely exacerbated the Salem witch trials hysteria, as those with unconventional behaviors or beliefs were quickly accused of witchcraft, leading to mass hysteria and executions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Puritans, who firmly believed in the doctrine of predestination, considered that emotions should be repressed to maintain social order and religious purity. The hysteria at the end of Act 1, as seen in Arthur Miller's 'The Crucible' during the scene where Tituba and Abby confess, may be influenced by this repression. Characters, fearing the consequences of their actions and the potential of being seen as non-conformists or as not being part of the 'elect', could have projected their repressed emotions onto others, accusing them of witchcraft.

During the Salem witch trials, any deviation from the norm, such as not attending church or appearing different, led to suspicion. The Puritans' fear of the unorthodox and the supernatural belief in witches exacerbated the mass hysteria that resulted in the deaths and accusations of many.

The collective fear and enforced conformity within Puritan society created an environment where repressed emotions could manifest in dangerous and destructive ways, aligning with the perspectives of historians like H.L. Mencken and James Truslow Adams who characterized Puritanism as repressive and narrow-minded.