Salem Witch Trials
Approximately 80% of the people accused of witchcraft in the 1960’s were women (Kagan 428). Primarily, the accused were women who were different, strong, independent and sensual in nature. Such women posed a problem to the typical rich, superior and dominant white male. Tituba was the first African American slave to be charged in the Salem Witch Trial in 1692. She was well liked by the children of Salem Village, which made her stand out from the rest. The children loved to listen to her stories of talking animals, magic and fortune telling. Once, several children became ill and showed symptoms of being bewitched Tituba was a prime suspect in the witch hunt. Although the children loved her, Tituba’s cultural and religious practices of fortune telling were not acceptable to the Puritans belief of Christianity.
Women were seen as seductively powerful due to the well know story of Adam and Even in the Garden of Eden. Although Adam knew it was wrong to eat of the forbidden fruit, he was convinced by his wife Even to partake of the fruit. Like Eve, women were considered to be the downfall of man. Women were looked down upon because of their gender by misogynistic men who justified the way they felt behind their Puritan faith. They felt because Eve had conversations with the devil, that most women had the same comradery with the devil. Puritans did not let that notion go. If a woman was behaving out of character according to the Puritan Christian faith she was assumed to be a witch or have been bewitched. Men believed women had connection with the devil, that they had some type of power that would control the minds of men. Some believed women had some type of magic powers over men which made them have sexual or impure thoughts. Ironically, women were considered to have these powers, yet they were rendered powerless compared to men.
In medieval times, it was believed witches were not born with “magical powers” (Goss 2). They were people who willingly
Women were seen as seductively powerful due to the well know story of Adam and Even in the Garden of Eden. Although Adam knew it was wrong to eat of the forbidden fruit, he was convinced by his wife Even to partake of the fruit. Like Eve, women were considered to be the downfall of man. Women were looked down upon because of their gender by misogynistic men who justified the way they felt behind their Puritan faith. They felt because Eve had conversations with the devil, that most women had the same comradery with the devil. Puritans did not let that notion go. If a woman was behaving out of character according to the Puritan Christian faith she was assumed to be a witch or have been bewitched. Men believed women had connection with the devil, that they had some type of power that would control the minds of men. Some believed women had some type of magic powers over men which made them have sexual or impure thoughts. Ironically, women were considered to have these powers, yet they were rendered powerless compared to men.
In medieval times, it was believed witches were not born with “magical powers” (Goss 2). They were people who willingly