Which event significantly escalates the hysteria in Salem?

The establishment of the court and the trials are pivotal events that significantly escalate the hysteria in Salem. When the court is formed to address the witchcraft accusations, it legitimizes the fears and paranoia that have already begun to take hold within the community. The trials bring a sense of urgency and seriousness to the proceedings, as townspeople see their friends and neighbors being accused and often condemned based on questionable evidence and testimonies.

As the trials unfold, the court's insistence on strict adherence to the law and the reliance on spectral evidence (testimony that a person's spirit or ghost was seen committing witchcraft) further intensifies the panic. The environment of fear and suspicion grows as individuals realize that they too could be accused, leading to a breakdown of social order. This atmosphere creates a cycle of blame and self-preservation among the townspeople, resulting in even more accusations and increasing hysteria.

In contrast, while the addition of more accused witches, public executions, and the arrival of a new minister may contribute to the ongoing tension, it is the formal structure of the court and the trials that become the catalyst for the escalation of fear and chaos in Salem.