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.