mass hysteria

DEFINE MASS HYSTERIA: (n.)
1. Spontaneous, en masse development of identical, physical, or emotional symptoms among a group of individuals.
2. A socially contagious frenzy of irrational behavior in a group of people as a reaction to an event.

CRUCIBLE:
Some reckless Puritan teenage girls and a Barbados slave, Tituba, were caught dancing in the woods. Beth faints and others soon follow by showing symptoms of being bewitched.

Interrogation ensues. Abigail becomes the mastermind of the situation and soon the town of Salem found itself engulfed in a state of frenzy.

Countless citizens are arrested and tried; countless people are sentenced to hang. A deeper look into their lives reveals a hidden secret, but one threat daunts all:

“A person is either with this court or he must be counted against it”

Le Roy, NY

In 2011 a normal, healthy teenage girl at Le Roy High School is inflicted with Tourette syndrome-like symptoms.

The tics, seizures, and outbursts spread to other girls in the school. Was is fake? Honors students were failing, poplar cheerleaders were now introverts, and all the students wondered...

Who would be next?

Concerned parents met with the school board, doctors and psychiatrists were contacted, and environmental factors were considered.

As the months went on, the media attention died down, the therapy and medication settled in, and all but one lost their symptoms.

HOW DO THESE COMPARE?

crucible & le roy

• girls displayed varied symptoms; eventually alleviated
• all teenagers (some younger, some older)
• located in the North/ New England area
• girls expressed unity with one another (emotional vs repute)
• affected the lives of their neighbors, families, & authority

Le Roy

LE ROY

• girls were given PROFESSIONAL medical & psychological attention
• sick girls became more numerous; social media "infected" them
• adults first sneered and truly questioned them
• environmental factors & health precautions were investigated
• sought ANSWERS; national exposure was wanted for help

the crucible

the crucible

• no real medical attention; Hale refers to his "prior knowledge" (1 witch!)
• only 2 girls were truly "infected;" all followed Abigail's lead in court
• adults believed the children; based all conclusions from them
• witches & people to blame were intentionally sought out
• basis of girls' actions: REVENGE

I speak my own sins; I cannot judge another. I have no tongue for it.