Is dancing an act of witchcraft? Is the forest a territory for evil? Nowadays, we would answer no to these questions mentioned above. However, in 1692, a typical Salem Puritan would have answered yes to both questions mentioned above. The Puritans left Europe and settled in Salem to escape religious persecution. In Salem, the Puritans led a strictly Puritan religious life. However, in Salem they were persecuted due to the failure of their theocracy. The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a play that addresses the major historical themes of the witch hunts unleashed by the failing theocracy. The failure of Salem's theocracy was the result of hysteria. Betty's behavior is one of many examples of hysteria in The Crucible. Hysteria is an uncontrollable emotion. In this case, the exaggerated and uncontrollable emotion is fear. The girls were caught dancing in the woods, so out of fear of being whipped or hanged, they hysterically and deceitfully transform into runaway goats. Betty doesn't really believe she can fly, but hysteria has completely taken over her logic and she behaves like one. This is one of the reasons Abigail tries to wake her up because to her it's all an act. Hysteria plays a major role in The Crucible and it is apparent throughout the play. This is the same hysteria the girls use to convince the court that the people named are communing with the devil. They not only turn to hysteria and deception to protect themselves, but also to protect their family's reputation. Betty's father is the town reverend. It is therefore crucial that the family's reputation remains intact and is not associated with witchcraft. The rest of the community doesn't participate in this hysteria only in the middle of a paper......she inserts a needle into her abdomen and claims that Elizabeth is bewitching her, causing her to hurt herself. This is an indication of how far Abigail will go to achieve her ends. When Elizabeth is taken to prison for possessing a doll and supposedly bewitching Abigail, Proctor tells Marry Warren to testify against Abigail. Although Marry Warren recognizes that her submissive and solitary character foreshadows her in court when she sees Abigail and the rest of the maiden turn against her, accusing her of witchcraft. When Marry Warren is asked to faint in court to prove that it was indeed just an act, she does not do so. The court therefore rejects his testimony. Out of fear of Abigail and in order to save her life, Marry Warren lies again and claims that Proctor had pressured her to lie in court. Abigail remains in control, deceiving and ultimately killing innocent people.