Salem Witch Trials Research Paper
The Salem witchcraft trials were a horrific set of events that caused harm to many people, but it was essentially bound to happen. That is not to say that that exact thing had to happen, but due to the society of the day, a conflict of some sort was basically guaranteed. Because of everything going on with politics and religion, combined with the way of society, it was something of a powder keg where no one could guess what, but it could be seen that something bad was bound to happen.
One of the reasons why this series of events was even possible in the first place was the entire world view at that time. Life in New England during the seventeenth century was very different from the way we live now. The world itself was viewed in a way completely …show more content…
different and nearly bizarre from today’s views. During this time in a place like Salem, Puritan beliefs were not only the prominent religion, but an entire basis for life, and this basis had many strong beliefs on things outside the natural realm. “New England settlers believed the world was an enchanted place filled with supernatural forces that could influence events and bring about changes in the natural world…the supernatural realm could intrude upon their lives at any time.” This was the common view that was so well believed that it would be odd for one to not believe it in that community. This view that supernatural forces affected lives every day was one of the main reasons something like the trials was not such an odd thought or an irrational one.
This view of life made things difficult when combined with how society worked in that day. The Puritan system was made that each individual was necessary for others continued existence. “New Englanders were well aware that they depended on each other for their survival. Townsfolk and villagers helped each other put up new buildings or harvest crops; they bartered with each other... The Puritan faith …taught that being a good neighbor had its spiritual as well as practical dimensions.” That meant that while everyone needed the other, they also were essentially required to keep an eye on another, making privacy nearly nonexistent, and as anyone with siblings know, closeness often breeds contempt, or at least arguments. The reason this is such a large factor in this society is precisely due to the supernatural view of the world. When someone argues with another now, they can ignore them. Then, they not only had to still count on that person, but had to do business with them. So when an argument ensued and a person was angry and later ill fortune had befallen them, supernatural play was suspected. The way of societal work mixed with that view of the world made what could be simple troubles into monumental exchanges that could, and eventually did, grow into vendettas and accusations that tore apart that society.
Another fact that made this world ripe for a conflict was the political and religious way things were ran. Life in Salem was one full of hatred against other religions and also other races. Although the town had started as a purely Puritan one, that changed with the arrival of newcomers as well as the constant change in beliefs from one generation to another. “A more diverse population and a more worldly way of life struck the [true puritans] as the Devil’s work.” This included Anglicans, Catholics, and especially Quakers. The Quakers were villianized in Salem and many others. It was so bad that, “…to be evangelized by Quakers was equivalent to being assaulted by Satan.” As other religions were feared, all the more so were the Indian people. “Many colonists were convinced that Indians worshipped the devil and practiced witchcraft.” This often came up in the trials as having some contact with Indians was practically enough to convict someone. The multiple prejudices of these people were another reason that these trials could come to pass. Because of all the conflict caused by Indians and other religions, there was yet another reason for conflict brewing within Salem.
The society of that day was a traditional one, which meant strict rules and stricter restrictions.
One of the main groups hurt by was the women of that time period. Life for a woman was very specific in social station and duty. The basic idea that was shared by both the men and women of that day were that women were “physically weaker than men and that therefore the Devil could more frequently and successfully gain access to and possess women’s souls.” It was due to this that around three-fourths accused during the trial were women. Although they were more charged, this was not a focused assault against women, but rather a statement of the way things were in that day. Because women had such a small role in public society, those who spoke up or acted against the norms, such as women who inherited land, were often charged as witches to keep the societal place of women the same. Women who did not fall into line were either the cause of trouble or a maker of it. Women who ran into troubles with the society because of misfortune such as Indian attacks had no chance of a valuable life because they could not marry were some of the main ones who became so-called victims of the witch attacks. They made a fuss and grabbed the spotlight per se for their chance to be important in society while they could. If it was needed to be a “victim” to do so, there were many willing to do so. That is not to say it was all purely selfish, but the way society had made it for them made their only way to actually have some political power was to make an accusation. “No wonder that they [women who experienced hardship] used their temporary power and prestige to attack…the Puritan establishment which taught its members to accept unquestionably their fate handed down to them by god.” These women were essentially oppressed into a specific role and those that went against it were either the ones doing well that were accused and brought back down or doing poorly and used this as the only way to
reclaim value for a time.
As it can be seen, society had many different things going on at the time. These show that society had pushed itself into a corner and something was bound to happen. Essentially, the Salem witch trials were the inevitable conclusion because of how feuds tore apart the togetherness needed in a Puritan society partly because of the world view, the political and social injustices upon other religions causing strife, and the essential sexism against women forcing them into extremes when faced with conflicts in society. Any one of these issues could have been fixed or avoided on its own, but when they were all brought together in a place, trouble would explode. That place was Salem, Massachusetts and the explosion was the Salem Witch Trials.
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[ 1 ]. Godbeer, Richard. Salem Witch Hunt. Boston, MA: Bedford/ST Martins, 2011. Page 8
[ 2 ]. Ibid, 14
[ 3 ]. Ibid, 18
[ 4 ]. Ibid, 19
[ 5 ]. Ibid, 17
[ 6 ]. Ibid, 11
[ 7 ]. Ibid, 23
One of the reasons why this series of events was even possible in the first place was the entire world view at that time. Life in New England during the seventeenth century was very different from the way we live now. The world itself was viewed in a way completely …show more content…
different and nearly bizarre from today’s views. During this time in a place like Salem, Puritan beliefs were not only the prominent religion, but an entire basis for life, and this basis had many strong beliefs on things outside the natural realm. “New England settlers believed the world was an enchanted place filled with supernatural forces that could influence events and bring about changes in the natural world…the supernatural realm could intrude upon their lives at any time.” This was the common view that was so well believed that it would be odd for one to not believe it in that community. This view that supernatural forces affected lives every day was one of the main reasons something like the trials was not such an odd thought or an irrational one.
This view of life made things difficult when combined with how society worked in that day. The Puritan system was made that each individual was necessary for others continued existence. “New Englanders were well aware that they depended on each other for their survival. Townsfolk and villagers helped each other put up new buildings or harvest crops; they bartered with each other... The Puritan faith …taught that being a good neighbor had its spiritual as well as practical dimensions.” That meant that while everyone needed the other, they also were essentially required to keep an eye on another, making privacy nearly nonexistent, and as anyone with siblings know, closeness often breeds contempt, or at least arguments. The reason this is such a large factor in this society is precisely due to the supernatural view of the world. When someone argues with another now, they can ignore them. Then, they not only had to still count on that person, but had to do business with them. So when an argument ensued and a person was angry and later ill fortune had befallen them, supernatural play was suspected. The way of societal work mixed with that view of the world made what could be simple troubles into monumental exchanges that could, and eventually did, grow into vendettas and accusations that tore apart that society.
Another fact that made this world ripe for a conflict was the political and religious way things were ran. Life in Salem was one full of hatred against other religions and also other races. Although the town had started as a purely Puritan one, that changed with the arrival of newcomers as well as the constant change in beliefs from one generation to another. “A more diverse population and a more worldly way of life struck the [true puritans] as the Devil’s work.” This included Anglicans, Catholics, and especially Quakers. The Quakers were villianized in Salem and many others. It was so bad that, “…to be evangelized by Quakers was equivalent to being assaulted by Satan.” As other religions were feared, all the more so were the Indian people. “Many colonists were convinced that Indians worshipped the devil and practiced witchcraft.” This often came up in the trials as having some contact with Indians was practically enough to convict someone. The multiple prejudices of these people were another reason that these trials could come to pass. Because of all the conflict caused by Indians and other religions, there was yet another reason for conflict brewing within Salem.
The society of that day was a traditional one, which meant strict rules and stricter restrictions.
One of the main groups hurt by was the women of that time period. Life for a woman was very specific in social station and duty. The basic idea that was shared by both the men and women of that day were that women were “physically weaker than men and that therefore the Devil could more frequently and successfully gain access to and possess women’s souls.” It was due to this that around three-fourths accused during the trial were women. Although they were more charged, this was not a focused assault against women, but rather a statement of the way things were in that day. Because women had such a small role in public society, those who spoke up or acted against the norms, such as women who inherited land, were often charged as witches to keep the societal place of women the same. Women who did not fall into line were either the cause of trouble or a maker of it. Women who ran into troubles with the society because of misfortune such as Indian attacks had no chance of a valuable life because they could not marry were some of the main ones who became so-called victims of the witch attacks. They made a fuss and grabbed the spotlight per se for their chance to be important in society while they could. If it was needed to be a “victim” to do so, there were many willing to do so. That is not to say it was all purely selfish, but the way society had made it for them made their only way to actually have some political power was to make an accusation. “No wonder that they [women who experienced hardship] used their temporary power and prestige to attack…the Puritan establishment which taught its members to accept unquestionably their fate handed down to them by god.” These women were essentially oppressed into a specific role and those that went against it were either the ones doing well that were accused and brought back down or doing poorly and used this as the only way to
reclaim value for a time.
As it can be seen, society had many different things going on at the time. These show that society had pushed itself into a corner and something was bound to happen. Essentially, the Salem witch trials were the inevitable conclusion because of how feuds tore apart the togetherness needed in a Puritan society partly because of the world view, the political and social injustices upon other religions causing strife, and the essential sexism against women forcing them into extremes when faced with conflicts in society. Any one of these issues could have been fixed or avoided on its own, but when they were all brought together in a place, trouble would explode. That place was Salem, Massachusetts and the explosion was the Salem Witch Trials.
--------------------------------------------
[ 1 ]. Godbeer, Richard. Salem Witch Hunt. Boston, MA: Bedford/ST Martins, 2011. Page 8
[ 2 ]. Ibid, 14
[ 3 ]. Ibid, 18
[ 4 ]. Ibid, 19
[ 5 ]. Ibid, 17
[ 6 ]. Ibid, 11
[ 7 ]. Ibid, 23