The Crucible and the reasons for the Salem witch hunt

This essay focus on the reasons that caused the witch hunts in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692. The characters’ motives and situation in The Crucible by Arthur Miller are examined and comparisons between them and reality are the main issue. Hence, both ecclesiastic and secular factors are taken into account. The Salem witch hunts was chosen, since this event displays many of the factors involved in making such a hunt possible. To understand how this situation could arise to begin with, the background and situation of this colony is scrutinized. The views on witchcraft, in myth and reality are described, as well as what categories of people most likely to be accused of witchcraft was. No single reason can be held accountable for the witch hunts, and thus, the aim of this essay has been to explain the most plausible ones. Unlike what is popularly believed, the reasons behind the witch hunts had nothing or very little to do with magic, black arts and so on. Although this is a single example of many witch hunts, the reasons given here are applicable in other witch hunts during the era commonly known as The Burning Times.Validerat; 20101217 (root