Hype and Hysteria By Ross, Smaira, Jess and Gemma

To hype is to publicise or promote, especially by extravagant, inflated, or misleading claims

People who are "hysterical" often lose self-control due to overwhelming fear

The term also occurs in the phrase mass hysteria to describe mass public near-panic reactions.


Hype and Hysteria is a big theme in Arthur Millers play, ‘The Crucible’. It first becomes apparent when Abigail Williams accuses the innocent of witchcraft, which during this time was a crime punishable by death. Abigail Williams first starts accusing members of Salems community in order to take focus off her own crimes, and accuses Elizabeth Proctor so she can take her place as John’s wife.


Before the accusations began, Salem was a very close knit community, and the witch trials gave the people a chance to speak out against others for the first time.


This was used by people to settle long grudges by accusing them of witch craft.

Elizabeth Proctor was accused by Abigail for the simple reason that she wanted to take her place as John Proctors wife.

John Proctor was also accused because once he told Abigail that he loved his wife and nothing was ever going to happen with them, Abigail became angry and wanted her revenge she then accused Proctor of sending his spirit out on all of the girls.

Goody Nurse was also accused of witch craft, and killing their babies, by the Putnams. Rebecca Nurse was hung because she did not admit to the crime that she did not commit.

Martha Corey was first related to witch craft when her own husband confessed to her reading books.


Hype and hysteria is one of the most important themes of the play as it builds up throughout the play and causes every character to change and go against each other, just to save themselves from death.