Preview

Pros And Cons Of Witchcraft

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
254 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Pros And Cons Of Witchcraft
The common and scholarly masses alike believed in the mystical forces of witchcraft gained by a pact with the devil. Jean Bodin who contended against religious devotion demanded death for witches and for those judges who might not arraign them. Trials of witches crested in Europe somewhere around 1560 and 1640. Confidence in witches was not new in the sixteenth century. Witches had for quite some time been reprimanded for the wrecking of crops and bringing on individual fiascoes extending from miscarriages to frenzy. What was new was legitimate oppression by state and religious powers. In a period of monetary emergency, torment, fighting, and the conflict of religious contrasts, witchcraft trials gave an outlet to social anxiety and tension,
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    How Witches Were Misunderstood During the Elizabethan Era Essay Example
    • 1192 Words
    • 5 Pages

    How Witches Were Misunderstood During the Elizabethan Era Essay Example

    For hundreds of years, the word “witch” has been associated with innumerable negative images. Witches were considered devil worshipers who committed scores of evil deeds toward society. By the 14th Century, a law was passed outlawing any practice of witchcraft or sorcery; anyone in Europe accused of witchcraft was subject to the torture and execution. In the 1450’s there was a breakout of violent persecutions against people accused of being witches. “During this time more than 100,000 people (mostly woman) were killed for allegedly practicing witchcraft” (Kallen 33) . Witches were viewed by the public as dangerous and uncontrollable menaces to society. They were believed to have relationships with the devil, this relationship was developed because of the church demonizing the witches in the 1450’s. During this time, people lacked medical knowledge about sickness and disease. When the witches were healthy during many of these wide spread diseases, the people believed they were the ones that cursed everyone with it. The people believed that witches could curse people that they did not like. In the city, It was common for old beggars to be on the side of the street asking for change but when people refused to give the beggars coins, they would angrily curse at the passersby. If the people that the…

    • 1192 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    AP EURO Witches DBQ
    • 597 Words
    • 3 Pages

    AP EURO Witches DBQ

    It was extremely easy to be accused of being a witch in the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth century. During this time period, Europe was going through many changes such as the Protestant Reformation, the Catholic Reformation, the Scientific Revolution, and the consolidation of many national governments. Although all of these changes were taking place, many people were stuck in their ways and did not approve of these new changes. The people that did not follow the social and political norm of the time were often accused of witchcraft.The most common reasons of persecutions of individuals as witches were if you were a female, if you were middle age and not married(widowed), or if you were not practicing Christianity.…

    • 597 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Causes Of The Salem Witch Hysteria Of 1692
    • 352 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Causes Of The Salem Witch Hysteria Of 1692

    The Salem Witch Hysteria of 1692, in Massachusetts, was a period of time in which many men and women were executed under the suspicion of being witches. However, the true reason behind the killings is still unclear. As evidence shows, it is highly probable that the witch trials were, at the most basic level, caused by social class differences, religious beliefs, and the fact that the supposed “afflicted” were lying.…

    • 352 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Similarities Between The Crucible And The Salem Witch Trials
    • 312 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Similarities Between The Crucible And The Salem Witch Trials

    The Salem witch trials was a trial based on the principles theocratic government and accusation of Witchcraft. The Salem witch trials had led to the execution of fifteen people, and the imprisonment of five others, all who died within jail. It had all started from the spread of mass hysteria. Shortly afterwards, people began to realize the huge folly of this type of theocratic style of government, and by 1697 the general of Massachusetts Court had even called for a day of fasting in respect for the wrongful execution of all these people. By 1711 the government had even passed legislation to remove any ‘ill-will” towards those convicted and forced to falsely confess to being witches only to be later executed. In addition, if any of the executed people had family, their families were paid a substantial financial compensation.…

    • 312 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Salem Witch Dbq
    • 241 Words
    • 1 Page

    Salem Witch Dbq

    Nowadays people will look for reliable evidences before they accuse someone. However, the Salem Witch Trials show that people are mindless when something is about witchcraft. Many people do not believe that there’s witchcraft in the world today, but in the Salem Village in the 17th Century, people believe that witchcraft exists and they are scared of the witchcraft, they are scared that other will use witchcraft to harm them, so people just use this opportunity to eradicate other people that might harm them or people that they dislike when the trials are going on. The Salem Witch Trials show that women have low social status in the society in the 17th Century, most likely women were executed from the trials since witches are most likely are…

    • 241 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Historical Events In American History: The Salem Witch Trials
    • 839 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Historical Events In American History: The Salem Witch Trials

    The Salem Witch Trials was a historic event that occurred in Salem, Massachusetts in the year 1692 and lasted until 1693. It’s known to be a dark time in American History (Brooks, Historyof Massachusetts.org). It first began when a group of teenage girls were exposed of practicing witchcraft and it then lead to bigger things Innocent people were killed and others were treated poorly. More than 200 individuals were wrongfully blamed and 20 were executed for denying the accusations (Blumberg, Smithsonianmag.com ). To this day no one is sure as to why the trials even started. There are numerous theories that state the causes of the infamous witch hunt but only a few of them are quite convincing. Many historians believe that religion is the main…

    • 839 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Essay On Salem Witch Trials And Mccarthyism
    • 812 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Essay On Salem Witch Trials And Mccarthyism

    The Salem Witch Trials began in 1692 in Salem Village, Massachusetts. Many believed “that the Devil could give certain people, known as witches, the power to harm others in return for their loyalty” (A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials 1). This began a craze for witchcraft in Europe, including a wave of hysteria, which led up to the Salem Witch Trials. Elizabeth Parris and Abigail Williams…

    • 812 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Devil's Snare
    • 459 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Devil's Snare

    Although the belief in witchcraft was widespread the prosecution of the witches was sporadic and only a few towns executed the witches. Many towns held trials, because they didn’t want to rush to judgment. However it was not easy to prove witchcraft, until 1692 when things turned for the worse and problems increased dramatically. Desparate for an answer the towns people finally started to believe this was the only explanation.…

    • 459 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    salam witch trials
    • 1082 Words
    • 5 Pages

    salam witch trials

    The Salem witchcraft trials fit perfectly into the historical context of witchcraft persecution. As in Salem, in the history of witchcraft the people that were accused of witchcraft where murdered in a brutal way. In circa 560 B.C., “The Bible condemns witches.” It reads that “A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.” The main word that I found to be very consistent is “Torture.” For example in 1591, King James authorized the torture of suspected witches in Scotland. Just like all over the world all people that where accused of witchcraft and convicted (not always convicted.) The person was put to death by a very inhuman way. In Salem most where put to death by hanging but one was crushed by the weight of stones.…

    • 1082 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Salem Witchcraft Trials Of 1692 To 1693
    • 591 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Salem Witchcraft Trials Of 1692 To 1693

    The Salem witchcraft trials of 1692 to 1693 was composed of a series of hearings as well as prosecutions of people, mostly young women, who were said to exhibit unusual behavior in Salem, Massachusetts. This behavior was classified as “witchcraft” and those who practiced it were claimed to be possessed by the devil. The idea began when a number of young girls started to take part in fortune-telling games, but the Puritan society on Massachusetts saw these abnormal events to be a sin, and decided that those who took part in it would be punished for doing so. Even though the behavior of these young women is synonymous to that of a rebellious teenager today, at the time it will seen as though they were consumed by a greater being.…

    • 591 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    What Are The Causes Of The Salem Witch Trials
    • 286 Words
    • 2 Pages

    What Are The Causes Of The Salem Witch Trials

    During the spring of 1692 the salem witch trials was caused because many women and men and children had believed that they were possessed by the devil. Many of the accused were put on trial and later hung. If they could not recite the Lord’s prayer then they were considered a witch. Other women who denied they were not possessed by the devil and many others agreed were forgiven of all there sins.…

    • 286 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Pros And Cons Of Being A Witch
    • 213 Words
    • 1 Page

    Pros And Cons Of Being A Witch

    Being able to witness the accused going through many tests to prove if they were witches would be extremely fascinating because I would bring back the many mistakes that they did and contribute in not letting it happen again. For example the evidence required was way different than it is now. There was five kinds of evidence that needed to be proved in order to be a witch. First, the accused townspeople are asked to recite the Lord’s prayers. If someone who is a witch would not be able to recite it and would be screaming and making a scene. Hearing them scream would probably remind me of visiting a mental institution. Second, in the trials they examined any physical evidence such as: birthmarks, warts, moles. Blemishes like these can be an…

    • 213 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Salem Witch Trial
    • 815 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Salem Witch Trial

    The Salem Witchcraft was a series of undesirable events, which was powered by paranoia and fear. Though several witch trials occurred before the Salem Witch Trial, this was the most well known of all. Many innocent people were accused of witchcraft which resulted to 19 men and women that were hanged, 17 innocents that died in unsanitary prisons, and an 80-year old man that was crushed to death by putting stones on top of his stomach until he confesses (movie: The Crucible). In some accounts, it was reported that two dogs were stoned to death for cooperating with the Devil. Why did the Salem Witch trial occur? Were these trials appropriate? Or were they truly a Devil's work? The Salem Witch Trials might have occurred for a variety of reasons such as people's ignorance that led to superstitions. It might have also occurred because people's crave for power, or it might also be because of fear.…

    • 815 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Salem Witchcraft Trials
    • 644 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Salem Witchcraft Trials

    “The Devil in Salem” by Peggy Robbins addresses the Salem witch trials that occurred in colonial Massachusetts in 1692. The Massachusetts Bay Colony was where it was more likely for people to believe in witchcraft in which it was known to be believed by the people that Satan would take use of human beings to carry on his war against heaven. It has been recorded that in Salem Village in the year of 1692, alone 170 witches were imprisoned and 20 were sentenced to death. The number of people who suffered the harsh brutalities of the trial in Salem was very small in comparison to the thousands of people who had been persecuted in Europe which was where it all started, but had started to die down.…

    • 644 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Pendle Witch Child Analysis
    • 904 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Pendle Witch Child Analysis

    In fact, Lancashire was uncommon in the quantity of witch trials that were held, in correlation to different districts who encountered the same level of social degeneracy. The cash that could be produced using asserting powers in witchcraft in the seventeenth century most likely brought on the statements made by the two families; they may have been in rivalry for the best notoriety in the region. This exploded backward and the wild allegations raised, fuelled by a general feeling of agitation and trepidation of witchcraft the nation over, making this the greatest and most famous witch…

    • 904 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics