The Salem Witch Trials are known as a series of people being accused and prosecuted of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts beginning in February 1692 until May 1693. The trials began after a group of girls claimed that they were possessed by the devil. Several local women were accused of witchcraft and this began the wave of hysteria that would forever haunt Salem and leave a painful legacy for a long time to come. Nearly every major school of historians has attempted to explain the answer to the mystery of the trials, trying to understand why they occurred. From Marxists who blame class conflict, to Freudians who believe in mass hysteria, the more ecologically based historians who put the blame on hallucinogenic ergot fungus, and now more…
The accusations started to make the Puritans think that witches were around after carrying on this belief with them from Europe which caused the magistrates to take these matters seriously. Tituba was first in the Puritan girls accusations, Tituba eventually admitted to being a witch claiming that devil forced her to do so and said that evil was looming over Salem. Two other women who were alleged as witches denied any wrongdoing but because of Tituba's testimony, the view of the people changed. Many were condemned, mainly starting with those who were looked down upon by the townspeople but later more respected people were put on trial. Most "witches" were found guilty of witchcraft and were subsequently put to death. The irony of this situation…
When I saw Abigail, I told her that I had made no promise to her during the affair after she declared that she waits for me at night. She said that I must still have feeling for her because she saw me looking up at her window. I admitted that I still had feelings for her, but that our relationship was over. Abigail mocked my wife, so I threatened to whip her. She started crying that I put knowledge in her heart, and she declared that I cannot ask her to forget what she has learned, that is, that all of Salem operates on pretense and lies.…
“Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” (Exodus 22:18), this was a passage that the Puritans lived by. The Salem Witch Trials took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1692 and claimed the lives of many innocent people. It led to the hangings of almost twenty, leaving more than one hundred in prison. A group of young girls in Salem Village accused several local women of witchcraft while being claimed of being possessed by the devil. This is causing a wave of hysteria to spread throughout colonial Massachusetts.…
Witches are known to be very dangerous, evil, and made deals with the devil. They were even killed, tortured and jailed, but nowadays we treat them completely differently. We invite them into our house, give them candy, and strike conversations with them, that is at least on halloween. In the late 1600s many older men and women were being caught as being “witches” in Salem, Massachusetts.These witch trials were being caused by young girls who were pretending just to get ergotism, attention, and eventually after one lie they got out control really quickly.…
In The Crucible Miller demonstrates the evils within the human nature through the experience of the Salem Witch Trials. Many characters in this play endure their own personal crucibles. First, Elizabeth Proctor has the ignominy of keeping a terrible secret. Also, Giles Corey goes through a deadly trial trying to protect his neighbor. Finally, Mary Warren, a shy and timid girl, has the impossible task of going against Abigail and the court. Each of these characters’ crucibles are very excruciating, but only some pass while others fail.…
A legitimate cause for the accusations may result from a mental disorder. In the article The Witchcraft Trials in Salem: A Commentary, it is acknowledged that, “The cause of her symptoms may have been some combination of stress, asthma, guilt, boredom, child abuse, epilepsy, and delusional psychosis” (Linder). Many of the possible symptoms may have caused the outbreak, yet delusional psychosis is more sensible. The form of a mental disorder causing the symptoms is a probable cause. The people of Salem were completely oblivious to the additional causes of the accusations. Salem could have avoided several lives may have been saved if some form of common knowledge was used.…
Society has been affected by religion ever since mankind existed. People’s values and morals could be altered from the belief of any religion because religion sets rules for one who chooses to believes it. If a rule were to be broken, a sin is presented upon the person. Society back in Salem Massachusetts of 1692 believes there are witches among the town. Anyone who doesn't believe there are any is automatically assumed to be working with the devil or is a witch. Religion may or may not be a big factor in the results of the Salem Witch Trials. Religion has not only been part of the Salem’s government system, but it has also been affecting the decisions of society.…
In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, John Proctor proclaims “Because it is my name! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of those who hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” This quote shows both the dilemma in the Salem Witch Trials, which Arthur Miller set his story in, and the era of McCarthyism which he kind of writes about; John was going to confess to being a witch but couldn’t because he didn’t want to ruin his name for his family. He was an innocent man but died because he didn’t confess. This is very similar to what was happening during the 50’s when McCarthyism first started. Arthur Miller’s use of the Salem Witch Trials in the Crucible demonstrates…
Colonial, Massachusetts February, 1692 and May, 1693 The Salem Witch Trials occurred. The Salem Witch trials are a big part of our history today. February, 1692 through May, 1693 at least 200 people were accused of witchcraft and at at least 20 of them were killed. This all started as an effect of the war between English rulers and the french. This war caused many refugees in Salem and the county of Essex.…
Christianity: it is a religion that is meant to unify people under God’s rule. It is meant to be a religion of peace and sanctity. The 1692 Puritan colony in Salem, Massachusetts was anything but peaceful. The Salem Witch Trials had ensued, and led to the killings of nearly twenty people. All this chaos was started due to an unofficial government, disease and famine, and patriarchal gender roles.…
In Witches! The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem, author Rosalyn Schanzer discusses the outbreak of the Salem witch trials and tells about the murderous colonial period of 1692. The trials took place in Salem, Massachusetts when the Puritans of England migrated to New England. The accusations of witches started when two girls began having fits, and a doctor tried to use elixirs and everything he could to cure them. He then diagnosed the two girls of being plagued by witches. After these events, the first 3 accused witches were arrested on February 29,1692, and the Salem witch trials began. When the accused were tried at the courthouse, they were already walking into death’s gate. Exodus 22:18 says, “ Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” This scripture set the tone for the Salem witch trials..The Salem Witch trials indirectly helped change the American legal system due to moral and ethical issues with spectral evidence, lack of legal representation, and how the accusers only…
The belief in witchcraft, or supernatural actions and the devil’s ability to give certain humans the power to harm others, in return for their loyalty, had been a part of traditional village culture in Europe since the 14th century. (history.com) The Salem witch trials took place between 1692 and 1693 in colonial Massachusetts. Two hundred people were accused of witchcraft and twenty people were executed. (smithsonianmag.com)…
My maiden name is Mercy Wardwell. When I was twenty I got accused of being a witch. My father was named Samuel Wardwell. In 1692 we both got accused and we were sentenced to death. I got out of it and I was able to marry John Wright. Together we had three children. Sadly my father was not able to make it to the wedding. We both said we were guilty, and they believed me, but they thought my father was forced to be guilty, so they killed him. We were all innocent, but that didn’t stop them. Two hundred were accused, some weren’t as lucky as I was. They killed twenty people. Twenty loved ones are gone for…
I look for you John Proctor that took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my heart! I never knew what pretense Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons I was taught by all these Christian Women and their covenanted men! And now you bid me tear the light out of my eyes? I will not, I cannot! You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever the sin it is, you love me yet! John, pity me, pity me (Miller,…