The Evil of Fear in "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller

In The Crucible, a play written by Arthur Miller, the strict Puritan community of Salem is bombarded with the hysteria of witchcraft. It starts when five young girls of Salem are caught dancing in the forest. Instead as mere children playing, this behavior is viewed upon by the Puritans as the work of the devil. As the hysteria builds momentum, more and more accusations radiate. Reverend Hale, a well known expert on witches, is brought …

…to be part of it. Hale willfully declares himself against the court.         The Puritan's strict way of life, and the rules the religion places on it's society, leads to the fear that evil is thriving in Salem. Reverend Hale is caught in the middle, and while he thinks he is helping the Community with their problems, he is actually making them worse. Eventually, he discovers his terrible mistakes, but by then, it is too late.