Witches of the 16th Century
Society in the 16th Century was, in fact, very male dominated, this
meant that women were already met with some degree of prejudice, but
this was to turn into the search for witches in every town and
village. Statistics show that 75% of those accused were women and
nearly all of them were over 50, this indicates a higher level of
women being accused and this could be because, women were seen as
inferior their male counterparts, and they never held any position of
authority over a male. The highest position in society that was
usually occupied by a female was either a healer or a wise-woman.
These did not tend to be the best career choices because they rapidly
became associated with witchcraft and witches.
Source A describes the direct relationship between the Devil and
women, it describes the views that were popular at the time, he uses
references to women, like “fragile feminine sex”, and “women are
naturally more impressionable”, this indicates that the writer
believes in the inferiority of the female sex in comparison to the
male sex. He also goes on to explain how the reason why the Devil
attacks them is because of this inferiority, and the “insatiable”
“carnal lust” that all women have.
Source B claims to be a confession, but the way it reads from the
start indicates that the victim had suffered torture and so was forced
to write this confession. The process is described as an
interrogation, and begins “I am a witch” and describes how the Devil
approached the lady in the middle of the woods, and offered her great
wealth, it goes on to tell how she could do nothing to resist and was
soon u...
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...st he was alive managed to convince others to work
as he did. He once said “neither witches nor bewitched until written
and talked about” this was a clear message, and it can compared to the
saying ‘ innocent until proven guilty’, this quote proves the way that
he thought and carried out his investigations.
In conclusion, the witch-hunts cannot be simply explained by one cause
or event that triggered the start, but is a collection of reasons that
built-up and finally exploded in an upsurge of witchcraft persecution.
However, many historians believe in polycausal explanations and not
many of them agree on every aspect of the causes, and I think that
they are all right in their own respects. It can be argued that the
upsurge of witchcraft persecution was a complete mixture of all the
points that have been argued above.
The few flashes of individuality showed her ability to rise to the occasion, to overcome her dependency, when the action was the only solution available. Like buying the poison or getting money by offering china-painting classes.
Salem Possessed: The Social Origins of Witchcraft is a concise, 231 page informational text by Paul Boyer and Stephen Nissenbaum. Published in 1974, it explores the economic and social conditions present in the Salem village during the 1600s that led to the hysteria surrounding witchcraft. Multiple graphs and illustrations are present, as well as an average sized font, an abundance of footnotes typically on the left page, and a prominent voice from the authors. The book was written to serve as a more comprehensive informational piece on the Salem witch trials due to the authors finding other pieces written about the same topic to be inaccurate. Paul Boyer and Stephen Nissenbaum wanted to create something that utilized
Salem Possessed: The Social Origins of Witchcraft explores and breaks down the events that took place in the small village of Salem in 1692. Paul Boyer and Stephen Nissenbaum, authors of Salem Possessed, use primary sources, both published and unpublished, to tell the crazy and eventful history of Salem. They go into great detail in why some folks were accused of being Witches, the arrests and the so popular Salem Witch Trials. The main reason for this book was to try and find out what caused the terrible outbreak of events that happened in Salem and they do so by looking into the History and Social life in the famed Salem Village. The history of Witchcraft in Salem is a well-known story from High School on and this book goes in depth about why things happened the way they did and how the social aspect played a big role is the story.
She was seduced at an early age and then fell in love with a preacher, but was overcome by an exciting younger man. She experienced every form of lust and desire as well as loss. Somehow though all the hardship she was able to come out on the other side a more complete woman and ironically did so without any of these
...negative things that happened in her childhood and decided to turn them into positive motivation for a flourishing, fulfilled life. Elva who grew up wanting now could have whatever she wanted. Her children would not have to long for such items as clean clothes and baths. However, when a person does not have the struggles and tribulations that Elva did what becomes their motivation? Hopefully it isn’t all about the money. Elva was determined a have a successful life, never did she define success as being rich. Many people have a dream about leaving poverty behind, yet sadly many people abandon their dream early on and never get to experience success like Elva. All it takes is a little hard, honest work, determination, education, and a desire to never sleep on a cold, dirty floor again.
...he shows us her character, not by how she gives herself respect, but by the continued respect that she gives to others: even her tormenters. Her secret shame was kept inside, and it was an impossible burden to bear. She was brave.
There were two types of witches in Elizabethan times: Black witches & White witches. Black witches were seen as devil worshipers who practiced magic in order to inflict harm. White witches, considered to be “Healers” by members of their village, were seen as invaluable members as the community, who used magic to help people in need, mainly by curing diseases. During the Elizabethan era people blamed un-explainable events as the work of witches. When people died from terrible diseases, when animals died, when there was a bad harvest, when houses were burnt down– someone had to be blamed, and witches seemed to be the obvious target. The distinction between White and Black witches was large until the witch hunt hysteria during the Renaissance
Throughout the late 17th century and into the early 18th century witchcraft prosecutions had been declining. This trend was the result of a multitude of social developments which altered the mentality of society. One of the predominant factors in this decline was the Scientific Revolution, the most important effect of these advances was making society question concepts of witchcraft. Along with this new mental outlook, we see that the Reformation had a similar effect on social opinion concerning witchcraft and magic. These two developments changed societies view on the occult and this led to a wider scepticism concerning witchcraft, this favoured those who had been accused and therefore caused a decline in prosecutions. Beyond the two trends mentioned however, it is important to consider judicial reforms and an improved socio-economic situation which reduced tensions within society. These two changes were certainly not as influential as the Scientific Revolution and the Reformation but heavily altered the circumstances in which accusations were normally made. With the altered social attitudes and mental outlook these changes in living situations all contributed to bring about the decline in witchcraft prosecutions.
Puritans believed in the devil and his role as strong as they believed in God and his role. For many centuries, Puritans had the idea that the weakest individuals in society often committed diabolical acts and sins. Furthermore, Satan selected the most vulnerable individuals to do his bidding, among these individuals, women were often held responsible for many sins, including witchcraft. (Godbeer 12). According to Richard Godbeer, in his book, The Salem Witch Hunt, “it was Eve who first gave away to Satan and seduced Adam.” (Godbeer 12). In 1692, witchcraft became a panic among Puritan society. Even though both men and women were accused of witchcraft, women were seventy-six percent more likely to be accused in Salem than men. (Godbeer 12). Puritan society was a male dominate society and men looked down upon women. There were two particular reasons to why women were often accused of being witches. The first reason, was in due to the Puritan belief that women were the source of evil. The second reason was because of certain events that associated with accusations. These events were being of relatively low social status and income, being rich or financially independent and being a midwife or nurse.
It is said the only proper way to kill a “witch” is death by fire. This has been the stance for hundreds of years, and during this era, an uncountable number of people were put to death by this same notion. Nevertheless, was it fair? Did they truly have a fair trial or was it used to eliminate innocent people for some kind of gain? Pope Innocent VIII (1484), Johannes Nider (1437), and an excerpt from Malleus Maleficarum (Hammer of the Witches, 1486), elaborates on stories of witchcraft, signs of witchcraft, and punishment for the highest considered form of heresy. These sources will make it very clear that people accused of witchcraft were unfairly prosecuted and endured much suffering at the hand of the church.
and it is what keeps her sane despite her triumphs. This quote also breaks the boundaries of gender
In the Malleus Maleficarum, Sprenger and Kramer’s basic argument about the origins of witchcraft is that witchcraft is found chiefly in women due to several reasons that focus on characteristics of women. Sprenger and Kramer argue that witchcraft in women is more probable because women were very naïve and impressionable, carnal lust is never satisfied in women, and they are of lower intelligence and weaker memories than men.
What I said was altogether false against my grandfather and Mr. Burroughs, which I did to save my life and to have my liberty; but the Lord, charging it to my conscience, made me in so much horror that I could not contain myself before I denied my confession…”(Godbeer 147).
In the book Witches! The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem, Rosalyn Schanzer describes what happens all because two girls fell ill. When Betty and Abigail started having fits, a doctor diagnosed them as bewitched. Almost immediately they accused the first witch, their slave Tituba. From there all the accusations started pouring out, Ann Putnam Jr., a friend of Betty and Abigail, became “afflicted” as well as multiple others, and soon the jails were overflowing. The first “witch” was hanged on June 10, and the last “witches/wizards” were hanged on September 22. The most likely reasons for the accusations were a thirst for revenge, boredom, and peer/parental pressure.
What do you think when someone calls someone a witch? What comes to mind? Do you think of the movie, ‘Hocus Pocus’ or do you think of the black pointed hats and the long black, slit ended dresses? What about witchcraft? Does the term “Devil worshiper” ever cross your mind? Do you think of potions and spells? For many, many generations, we have underestimated what the true meaning of a witch and what witchcraft really is. What is the history that hides behind it? Witches and witchcraft have been in our history since the ancient times. There is a little bit more than the ghost stories told on Halloween, the movies shown on TV and dressing up on Halloween.