Who or What is Responsible? Who or What Is to Blame?
In order to successfully complete this Part II/Final Examination assignment, you must complete the reading
of Arthur Miller’s, “The Crucible” play, the Edpuzzle assignment on the Google Classroom which is the
movie/theatrical version of the play, and the PADLET ASSIGNMENT, “Oh, What a Tangled Web We
Weave..” Upon completion of Arthur Miller’s play “The Crucible,” we must return to the original terms
hysteria and mass hysteria. The Salem Witch Trials is the most popular example of mass hysteria in history
for many reasons. For one, it is difficult to determine who are what caused this episode of mass hysteria
that ultimately claimed the lives of many people who were members of this Salem Village of Puritans.
Secondly, it is difficult to understand how a religious group whose rules were strict in the worship to God,
could have behaved in such a manner that people were murdered. Thirdly, people who read about the
Salem Wich Trials are shocked by the events that took place, specifically how quickly mass hysteria
engulfed an entire community in short span of time. Lastly, many wonder if such an occurence can ever
happen again. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? WHO IS TO BLAME FOR WHAT WE WITNESSED THROUGH
THE READING OF “THE CRUCIBLE” play, The Salem Witch Trial Article, and the movie/theatrical
version?
TASK: Create a one-two page response that addresses the following inquiry using textual references to
substantiate your stance: WHO, OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE THE MASS HYSTERIA THAT ENGULFED
THE SALEM COMMUNITY OF PURITANS?
PARAGRAPH ONE: Begin this analytical response by presenting questions that gets the reader thinking
about the terms mass hysteria, acceptance, control, consequences, control, and remorse. As always, your
questions should be thought-provoking as these terms above capture the actual events of The Salem Witch
Trials inspiring the creation of Arthur Miller’s play and theatrical version of “The Crucible.” Give your reader
insight into the plot of the play without summarizing the story in its totality. YOUR FINAL SENTENCE IN
THIS PARAGRAPH MUST BE YOUR THESIS, WHICH IS WHERE YOU DECLARE YOUR RESPONSE
TO THE QUESTION “Who or what is responsible for the mass hysteria engulfing the Salem community of
Puritans? REMEMBER MANY PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES BECAUSE THEY WERE FALSELY
ACCUSED OF BEING WITCHES AND THUS, PRACTICING WITCHCRAFT. In short, were the children to
be blamed for the mass hysteria that destroyed the Salem Village of Puritans? Was it the adults? Was it the
religion itself, or someone/something else?
BODY OF THE ESSAY: This is the portion of your essay where you present as much textual evidence as
you can gather to support your response to the question above “WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE MASS HYSTERIA THAT ENGULFED THE SALEM VILLAGE OF PURITANS, LEADING TO THE
LOSS OF MANY INNOCENT LIVES? Are you going to assign blame to the adults who simply should have
known better than to be consumed by lies? Are you going to blame the strict rules of Puritan life and
religion? Will you assign blame to the Puritan girls who were dancing in the forest? Should the leaders of
the Puritan community be blamed as those who held the authority to do the right thing? Would you assign
blame to one of the themes identified throughout the reading such as The Impact of Deception,
Consequences for One’s Actions, or The Presence of Hypocrisy. YOU MUST USE TEXTUAL
REFERENCE TO SUPPORT YOUR THESIS WHICH AGAIN DECLARES WHO OR WHAT IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MASS HYSTERIA ENGULFING THE SALEM COMMUNITY OF PURITANS,
LEADING TO THE LOSS OF INNOCENT LIVES.
Conclusion: Can such an occurence happen again? Can the events of Salem Witch Trials be repeated?
AGAIN, EXPLAIN IN DETAIL.