Humanity has gone through a number of challenges that have tested our beliefs and morals throughout history. In 1692, our humanity was put to the ultimate test when the Great Salem Witch Hunt broke out against the Puritans of colonial America. Fear spread among the population and the desire to get rid of evil was strong, causing the deaths of many innocent people. These types of events repeat themselves over time. It's as if we humans are oppressed for a number of decades and once fear takes root in our society, we act harshly against it, as if releasing emotions of desire for freedom personal. Outbreaks of mass hysteria occur because of social problems that have been ignored for too long, and all it takes is a little misleading information to cause them. The mass hysteria that occurred in Salem, Massachusetts was inevitable. The Puritan lifestyle is very limited and strict. People were forbidden to participate in many activities and many acts were punishable in the name of God. Documents from the period, such as early settler John Winthrop's "City Upon a Hill," show how the Puritans were "commanded...to love the Lord our God," and that the Going against God's word was taken very seriously. So, people lived in fear of punishment. When an innocent little girl declares that she is under the influence of the devil, widespread fear shakes the entire village. The blame begins to be placed on people and soon, the witch hunt begins. The accused tend to be the minority of Puritans, and it is clear that people are using hysteria for their own purposes. The accused were judged harshly and punished quickly. Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible" takes place in the aforementioned events, and he explains...... middle of paper ...... communists through HUAC. Ultimately, fear drives people to take drastic action and make sacrifices to feel safe again, whether it's 1692 or the 20th century. Metaphorically, mass hysteria can be described as a flame. Social issues are the tinder since that is where the problem takes root, and the oppression of the people is the little fire that will provide a framework for the problem. Fear is the initial spark of the flame, and combined with political and economic problems, the flame grows larger. This flame signifies the burning passion of people within mass hysteria to destroy, or more precisely, eliminate those they fear, in order to restore order. This is why events such as the Great Salem Witch Hunt are tests of humanity's beliefs and morals. It is essentially up to us to stop the spread of the flame and control the outbreak of collective hysteria...