Answer and Explanation:
In the first Act, we can see that fear is a driving force that determines the action, behavior and positioning of the characters in relation to everything that happens in their lives. Thus, we can say that fear, in this story, has the ability to manipulate all members of society. This can be considered an effect of the repressive Puritan society, which works on a blind faith to contain citizens, instead of working with information and freedom. In this case, we can perceive two types of fear that rule the whole story, the fear of witchcraft and diabolical manipulation (we can see this with the girls' fear of being accused of witches and the population's fear of harboring witches), such as the fear of losing their reputation (as we can see at the moment when Reverend Parris had to have a witch inside his house.)
Fear causes lies, accusations, deaths and, as we know, a strong hysteria that almost destroyed the city. Furthermore, fear causes a wave of betrayals and accusations, which all Puritan society in history does not see as sinful acts, but they believe it is justifiable. This shows how this society was contradictory.
“Atticus had promised me he would wear me out if he ever heard of me fighting anymore; I was far too old and too big for such childish things, and the sooner I learned to hold in, the better off everybody would be.”
