The Salem Witch Trials Essay Example For Students

The Salem Witch Trials Essay Mr. John Hathorn, a Judge involved in the witchcraft case of Sarah Good, then asked all of the afflicted children to look upon her and see if this was the person that had hurt them so. They all gazed at Goody Good and said that this was the person that tormented thempresently they were all tormented. Puritanical beliefs had all of Salem truly believing that witches rode on broomsticks across the sky every night alongside the devil himself. They believed that these mere humans could send their specter out and haunt the children of their town. Proof of their belief follows, in an excerpt from Cotton Mathers Memorable Providences: We will write a custom essay on The Salem Witch Trials specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Go tell Mankind, that there are Devils and Witches; and that tho those night-birds least appear where the Day-light of the Gospel comes, yet New-Engl. has had Exemples of their Existence and Operation; and that no only the Wigwams of Indians, where the pagan Powaws often raise their masters, in the shapes of Bears and Snakes and Fires, but the House of Christians, where our God has had his constant Worship, have undergone the Annoyance of Evil spirits. Go tell the world, What Prays can do beyond all Devils and Witches, and What it is that these Monsters love to do; and through the Demons in the Audience of several standers-by threatned much disgrace to thy Author, if he let thee come abroad, yet venture That, and in this way seek a just Revenge on Them for the Disturbance they have given to such as have called on the Name of God. Rebecca Nurse Goody Nurse was a highly regarded, pious pillar of the community who unfortunately could not withstand the power of hysteria. There were many reasons that Rebecca was accused, but it was mostly the hatred exhibited towards her by the Putnam family. She was against Samuel Parris as Reverend of the Salem Town Church, while the Putnam family was his friend, and her husband was at war with the Putnam family estate over some land. Rebecca exuded a saint-like presence over the dark days of the witch-hunt. After her accusation, thirty-nine of the most prominent leaders of the community signed a petition attesting to Rebeccas goodness of heart. Even one of her original accusers, Jonathan Putnam, put his name to the appeal. During her trial, Sarah Holton testified that Goody Nurse killed her husband, Benjamin, because she found his pigs in her field. In actuality, Benjamin Holton died of a heart attack three years after the pig incident. In further evidence against Nurse, Ann Putnam, Sr. , whom we have already established as being unfairly biased, testified before the court. She claimed that apparitions of Goody Nurse came to her and choked her in the night while the spirit proclaimed all of the people she had killed (the list incidentally included Benjamin Holton). Fortunately, the speculative evidence against Rebecca Nurse was not substantial enough to convict her; on June 30, the jury came back with a verdict of not guilty. The afflicted children broke out in tantrums and hideous screaming fits and Chief Justice Stoughton urged the jury to reconsider. They came back with a decision of guilty. As if this was not punishment enough, Nurse was excommunicated from her church on July 3. This proved to be most devastating to a God-fearing, pious woman. Goody Nurse, at age 71, was executed on July 19, 1692. Sarah Good Sarah Good fit the ultimate stereotype of a witch: the lonely beggar, fed up with society, arguing with anyone that would not give his or her charity. She was destined to be accused; it was only a matter of time before an accused witch, Tituba, would sacrifice her soul for her life. Tituba confessed to being a witch and named Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne as fellow witches. .u06b31707f3a1a60d7f2359d54c77bdb4 , .u06b31707f3a1a60d7f2359d54c77bdb4 .postImageUrl , .u06b31707f3a1a60d7f2359d54c77bdb4 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u06b31707f3a1a60d7f2359d54c77bdb4 , .u06b31707f3a1a60d7f2359d54c77bdb4:hover , .u06b31707f3a1a60d7f2359d54c77bdb4:visited , .u06b31707f3a1a60d7f2359d54c77bdb4:active { border:0!important; } .u06b31707f3a1a60d7f2359d54c77bdb4 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u06b31707f3a1a60d7f2359d54c77bdb4 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u06b31707f3a1a60d7f2359d54c77bdb4:active , .u06b31707f3a1a60d7f2359d54c77bdb4:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u06b31707f3a1a60d7f2359d54c77bdb4 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u06b31707f3a1a60d7f2359d54c77bdb4 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u06b31707f3a1a60d7f2359d54c77bdb4 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u06b31707f3a1a60d7f2359d54c77bdb4 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u06b31707f3a1a60d7f2359d54c77bdb4:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u06b31707f3a1a60d7f2359d54c77bdb4 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u06b31707f3a1a60d7f2359d54c77bdb4 .u06b31707f3a1a60d7f2359d54c77bdb4-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u06b31707f3a1a60d7f2359d54c77bdb4:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Tropical Rainforests EssayDuring her trial, as can be imagined many people came forward to testify against Good. Seven people testified against her general attitude; however, the most detrimental to Good was the examination of her own daughter, who confessed herself and mother as being witches. Susannah Sheldon testified as to apparitions that were seen of Mrs. Good. The following was taken, verbatim, from the original court document of her deposition: Sarah Good . The Salem Witch Trials Essay Example For Students The Salem Witch Trials Essay Essay on the Witches in Massachusetts What evil spirit have you familiarity with? Have you made no contract with the devil? Dialogue based on the examination of Sarah Good by Judges Hawthorne and Corwin Even though Sara Good claimed that she was wrongly accused, the judges did not take her word for it. Instead they trusted the testimony of children, children who had no proof or evidence of any kind. To understand why one must look into the society in which the trials took place. It was a society where Puritanism ruled. The extreme Protestant movement who sought a purification of the English church, which of curse meant a swift and thorough elimination of all that threatened their beliefs, including witches. We will write a custom essay on The Salem Witch Trials specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now One must also remember that the power of superstition and hearsay can distort the truth. And indeed it was a time of rumors and an almost unquestionable belief in the supernatural. For Salem Villagers, Satan was a living, supernatural being who could and did appear to people, either in his own form or that of another. He could converse with mortals, bargain with them, even enter into agreements with them. The witches who submitted to such devilish compacts bargained their souls in return for special powers or favors: money and good fortune, perhaps, or the ability to revenge themselves on others. Demons at that time was as real as TV is today, and maybe that was why the ministers was so quick to believe the testimony of the children. If the demons was real then just as real was the church, and of curse the ministers could not believe that the children would lie to the church. Leave out the possibility that real witchcraft was in fact what happened, and that the children did not lie to the ministers, then how could such a tragedy occur? The deterioration of Salems social structure precipitated the murders of many innocent people. Arthur Millers depiction of The Salem Witch Trials Essay, The Crucible and later the motion picture: The Salem Witch Trials, deals with a community that starts out looking like it is tightly knit and church loving. It turns out that once Tituba starts pointing her finger at the witches, the community starts pointing their fingers at each other. Hysteria and hidden agendas break down the social structure and then everyone must protect themselves from the people that they thought were their friends. The church, legal system and the togetherness of the community died so that children could protect their families social status. Being isolated from any other group of people with different beliefs created a church led Puritan society that was not able to accept a lot of change. The church was against the devil, at the same time it was against such things as dancing and other premature acts. The reputation of the family was very important to the members of the community. When the girls were caught dancing in the woods, they lied to protect not just themselves but the reputation of their families. They claimed that the devil took them over and influenced them to dance. The girls also said that they saw members of the town standing with the devil. A community living in a puritan society like Salem could easily go into a chaotic state and have a difficult time dealing with what they consider to be the largest form of evil. Salems hysteria made the community lose faith in the spiritual beliefs that they were trying to strictly enforce. The justice system was designed to protect the people that it serves but during the trials the accused witch had two choices, death or imprisonment. The punishment of death was given to all people that pleaded not guilty; the other punishment was to plead guilty and avoid execution. Salem was turning into a ghost town. With the community turning on each other, the church loosing its respect and influence, and an unjust legal system, it is only natural that the people were in a state of total chaos. .u3f365fa771671c089330114be59d6dd1 , .u3f365fa771671c089330114be59d6dd1 .postImageUrl , .u3f365fa771671c089330114be59d6dd1 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u3f365fa771671c089330114be59d6dd1 , .u3f365fa771671c089330114be59d6dd1:hover , .u3f365fa771671c089330114be59d6dd1:visited , .u3f365fa771671c089330114be59d6dd1:active { border:0!important; } .u3f365fa771671c089330114be59d6dd1 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u3f365fa771671c089330114be59d6dd1 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u3f365fa771671c089330114be59d6dd1:active , .u3f365fa771671c089330114be59d6dd1:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u3f365fa771671c089330114be59d6dd1 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u3f365fa771671c089330114be59d6dd1 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u3f365fa771671c089330114be59d6dd1 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u3f365fa771671c089330114be59d6dd1 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u3f365fa771671c089330114be59d6dd1:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u3f365fa771671c089330114be59d6dd1 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u3f365fa771671c089330114be59d6dd1 .u3f365fa771671c089330114be59d6dd1-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u3f365fa771671c089330114be59d6dd1:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: What Does Extracurricular Activities? Schools Can Be Beneficial, Right? examples Essay John Demos writes: only at Salem did any considerable number choose to convict themselves, and there, it seemed, confession was the strategy of choice if one wished to avoid . The Salem Witch Trials Essay Example For Students The Salem Witch Trials Essay The Salem Witch Trials Essay The witch trials of the late 1600s were full of controversy and uncertainty. The Puritan town of Salem was home to most of these trials, and became the center of much attention in 1692. More than a hundred innocent people were found guilty of practicing witchcraft during these times, and our American government forced over a dozen to pay with their lives. The main reasons why the witch trials occurred were conflicts dealing with politics, religion, family, economics, and fears of the citizens. Before the town of Salem became so famous for its trials, its Puritan residents moved from their English homes to escape from religious persecution. We will write a custom essay on The Salem Witch Trials specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now There were two groups of people that made up the town: people who wanted to leave the town of Salem, and people who did not. Most of the families who wanted to stay lived closest to the town, and the families who wanted to leave lived further away. The families and people who wished to leave were typically farmers, and lived about eight miles from Salem Town. One of the largest families of farmers was the Putnams. The Putnams were thought of highly in the village, because they owned the most farmland. Since they wanted to separate from the town, they decided to establish their own church in 1689. Rev. Parris was the preacher at the church, and his salary was paid by the local taxes. He had a nine-year-old daughter named Betty, and a twelve year old niece named Abigail Williams. Since they lived so far away from Salem Town, there wasnt much for them to do for recreational purposes. Abigail, Betty, and two other friends decided to form a circle where they would entertain each other with stories. Rev. Parris slave, Tituba, would sometimes participate in their circle, and before long, several other girls joined their group. Tituba would tell the girls fortunes, but soon Abigail and Betty became frightened from these psychic readings. Rev. Parris thought that their unusual behavior and strange physical expressions were a sign that the girls were bewitched. At first the girls wouldnt speak about those with whom they supposedly conjured spirits, but Betty finally named Tituba. The other girls also named other people like Sarah Osborne and Sarah Good who they claimed to have seen with the devil. Since these three women had bad reputations in the town they were believable suspects of witchcraft. An investigation of the three women was set up, and John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin were sent from Salem Town to investigate the cases of witchcraft. The investigation took place in the Salem Village Meetinghouse. During the trials, when the three women were being asked questions, the girls would cry out and tumble to the floor. Even though Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne maintained their innocence throughout all of this, Tituba had decided to confess to practicing witchcraft. After the investigation, Hawthorne and Corwin decided that the three women were all guilty of witchcraft. They were all taken to a Boston jail, where Sarah Osborne would later die from natural causes. Even after the three women were taken to jail, the accusations still continued in the village. Soon, another townswoman by the name of Martha Corey was accused. Ann Putnam had accused Martha of sending her spirit out to get her. Even though Corey always attended church, she was still disliked in the village. Rebecca Nurse would be the next person to be accused of witchcraft. Even though she was a 71-year-old woman, Ann Putnam and the rest of the girls told the court that her spirit would fly into their rooms at night and torment them. When Rebecca was notified of these charges, she responded, What sin has God found in me unrepented of that he should lay such an affliction upon me in my old age? (Kent, p. 76). When the people in the village heard about her conviction, they started to discredit the word of the girls, but the accusations continued. One of the people who didnt believe the girls was a 60-year-old farmer by the name of John Proctor. His maid, Mary, started to act like the other girls, so John threatened to beat her if . The Salem Witch Trials Essay Example For Students The Salem Witch Trials Essay Mr. John Hathorn, a Judge involved in the witchcraft case of Sarah Good, then asked all of the afflicted children to look upon her and see if this was the person that had hurt them so. They all gazed at Goody Good and said that this was the person that tormented thempresently they were all tormented. Puritanical beliefs had all of Salem truly believing that witches rode on broomsticks across the sky every night alongside the devil himself. They believed that these mere humans could send their quot;specterquot; out and haunt the children of their town. Proof of their belief follows, in an excerpt from Cotton Mathers Memorable Providences: We will write a custom essay on The Salem Witch Trials specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Go tell Mankind, that there are Devils and Witches; and that tho those night-birds least appear where the Day-light of the Gospel comes, yet New-Engl. has had Exemples of their Existence and Operation; and that no only the Wigwams of Indians, where the pagan Powaws often raise their masters, in the shapes of Bears and Snakes and Fires, but the House of Christians, where our God has had his constant Worship, have undergone the Annoyance of Evil spirits. Go tell the world, What Prays can do beyond all Devils and Witches, and What it is that these Monsters love to do; and through the Demons in the Audience of several standers-by threatned much disgrace to thy Author, if he let thee come abroad, yet venture That, and in this way seek a just Revenge on Them for the Disturbance they have given to such as have called on the Name of God. Rebecca Nurse Goody Nurse was a highly regarded, pious pillar of the community who unfortunately could not withstand the power of hysteria. There were many reasons that Rebecca was accused, but it was mostly the hatred exhibited towards her by the Putnam family. She was against Samuel Parris as Reverend of the Salem Town Church, while the Putnam family was his friend, and her husband was at war with the Putnam family estate over some land. Rebecca exuded a saint-like presence over the dark days of the witch-hunt. After her accusation, thirty-nine of the most prominent leaders of the community signed a petition attesting to Rebeccas goodness of heart. Even one of her original accusers, Jonathan Putnam, put his name to the appeal. During her trial, Sarah Holton testified that Goody Nurse killed her husband, Benjamin, because she found his pigs in her field. In actuality, Benjamin Holton died of a heart attack three years after the pig incident. In further evidence against Nurse, Ann Putnam, Sr. , whom we have already established as being unfairly biased, testified before the court. She claimed that apparitions of Goody Nurse came to her and choked her in the night while the spirit proclaimed all of the people she had killed (the list incidentally included Benjamin Holton). Fortunately, the speculative evidence against Rebecca Nurse was not substantial enough to convict her; on June 30, the jury came back with a verdict of not guilty. The afflicted children broke out in tantrums and hideous screaming fits and Chief Justice Stoughton urged the jury to reconsider. They came back with a decision of guilty. As if this was not punishment enough, Nurse was excommunicated from her church on July 3. This proved to be most devastating to a God-fearing, pious woman. Goody Nurse, at age 71, was executed on July 19, 1692. Sarah Good Sarah Good fit the ultimate stereotype of a witch: the lonely beggar, fed up with society, arguing with anyone that would not give his or her charity. She was destined to be accused; it was only a matter of time before an accused witch, Tituba, would sacrifice her soul for her life. Tituba confessed to being a witch and named Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne as fellow witches. .u1869ec27f3c5c9906c09d1c1e826e289 , .u1869ec27f3c5c9906c09d1c1e826e289 .postImageUrl , .u1869ec27f3c5c9906c09d1c1e826e289 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u1869ec27f3c5c9906c09d1c1e826e289 , .u1869ec27f3c5c9906c09d1c1e826e289:hover , .u1869ec27f3c5c9906c09d1c1e826e289:visited , .u1869ec27f3c5c9906c09d1c1e826e289:active { border:0!important; } .u1869ec27f3c5c9906c09d1c1e826e289 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u1869ec27f3c5c9906c09d1c1e826e289 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u1869ec27f3c5c9906c09d1c1e826e289:active , .u1869ec27f3c5c9906c09d1c1e826e289:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u1869ec27f3c5c9906c09d1c1e826e289 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u1869ec27f3c5c9906c09d1c1e826e289 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u1869ec27f3c5c9906c09d1c1e826e289 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u1869ec27f3c5c9906c09d1c1e826e289 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u1869ec27f3c5c9906c09d1c1e826e289:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u1869ec27f3c5c9906c09d1c1e826e289 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u1869ec27f3c5c9906c09d1c1e826e289 .u1869ec27f3c5c9906c09d1c1e826e289-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u1869ec27f3c5c9906c09d1c1e826e289:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Beowulf Essay ThesisDuring her trial, as can be imagined many people came forward to testify against Good. Seven people testified against her general attitude; however, the most detrimental to Good was the examination of her own daughter, who confessed herself and mother as being witches. Susannah Sheldon testified as to quot;apparitionsquot; that were seen of Mrs. Good. The following was taken, verbatim, from the original court document of her deposition: Sarah Good . The Salem Witch Trials Essay Example For Students The Salem Witch Trials Essay The Salem Witch Trials Essay The witch trials of the late 1600s were full of controversy and uncertainty. The Puritan town of Salem was home to most of these trials, and became the center of much attention in 1692. More than a hundred innocent people were found guilty of practicing witchcraft during these times, and our American government forced over a dozen to pay with their lives. The main reasons why the witch trials occurred were conflicts dealing with politics, religion, family, economics, and fears of the citizens. Before the town of Salem became so famous for its trials, its Puritan residents moved from their English homes to escape from religious persecution. We will write a custom essay on The Salem Witch Trials specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now There were two groups of people that made up the town: people who wanted to leave the town of Salem, and people who did not. Most of the families who wanted to stay lived closest to the town, and the families who wanted to leave lived further away. The families and people who wished to leave were typically farmers, and lived about eight miles from Salem Town. One of the largest families of farmers was the Putnams. The Putnams were thought of highly in the village, because they owned the most farmland. Since they wanted to separate from the town, they decided to establish their own church in 1689. Rev. Parris was the preacher at the church, and his salary was paid by the local taxes. He had a nine-year-old daughter named Betty, and a twelve year old niece named Abigail Williams. Since they lived so far away from Salem Town, there wasnt much for them to do for recreational purposes. Abigail, Betty, and two other friends decided to form a circle where they would entertain each other with stories. Rev. Parris slave, Tituba, would sometimes participate in their circle, and before long, several other girls joined their group. Tituba would tell the girls fortunes, but soon Abigail and Betty became frightened from these psychic readings. Rev. Parris thought that their unusual behavior and strange physical expressions were a sign that the girls were bewitched. At first the girls wouldnt speak about those with whom they supposedly conjured spirits, but Betty finally named Tituba. The other girls also named other people like Sarah Osborne and Sarah Good who they claimed to have seen with the devil. Since these three women had bad reputations in the town they were believable suspects of witchcraft. An investigation of the three women was set up, and John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin were sent from Salem Town to investigate the cases of witchcraft. The investigation took place in the Salem Village Meetinghouse. During the trials, when the three women were being asked questions, the girls would cry out and tumble to the floor. Even though Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne maintained their innocence throughout all of this, Tituba had decided to confess to practicing witchcraft. After the investigation, Hawthorne and Corwin decided that the three women were all guilty of witchcraft. They were all taken to a Boston jail, where Sarah Osborne would later die from natural causes. Even after the three women were taken to jail, the accusations still continued in the village. Soon, another townswoman by the name of Martha Corey was accused. Ann Putnam had accused Martha of sending her spirit out to get her. Even though Corey always attended church, she was still disliked in the village. Rebecca Nurse would be the next person to be accused of witchcraft. Even though she was a 71-year-old woman, Ann Putnam and the rest of the girls told the court that her spirit would fly into their rooms at night and torment them. When Rebecca was notified of these charges, she responded, What sin has God found in me unrepented of that he should lay such an affliction upon me in my old age? (Kent, p. 76). When the people in the village heard about her conviction, they started to discredit the word of the girls, but the accusations continued. One of the people who didnt believe the girls was a 60-year-old farmer by the name of John Proctor. His maid, Mary, started to act like the other girls, so John threatened to beat her if . The Salem witch trials Essay Example For Students The Salem witch trials Essay The Salem witch trials Essay began with the accusation of people in Salem of being witches. But the concept of witchcraft started far before these trials and false accusations occurred. In the early Christian centuries, the church was relatively tolerant of magical practices. Those who were proved to have engaged in witchcraft were required only to do penance. But in the late Middle Ages (13th century to 14th century) opposition to alleged witchcraft hardened as a result of the growing belief that all magic and miracles that did not come unambiguously from God came from the Devil and were therefore manifestations of evil. We will write a custom essay on The Salem witch trials specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Those who practiced simple sorcery, such as village wise women, were increasingly regarded as practitioners of diabolical witchcraft. They came to be viewed as individuals in league with Satan. Nearly all those who fell under suspicion of witchcraft were women, evidently regarded by witch-hunters as especially susceptible to the Devils blandishments. A lurid picture of the activities of witches emerged in the popular mind, including covens, or gatherings over which Satan presided; pacts with the Devil; flying broomsticks; and animal accomplices, or familiars. Although a few of these elements may represent vestiges of pre-Christian religion, the old religion probably did not persist in any organized form beyond the 14th century. The popular image of witchcraft, perhaps inspired by features of occultism or ceremonial magic as well as by theology concerning the Devil and his works of darkness, was given shape by the inflamed imagination of inquisitors and was confirmed by statements obtained under torture. The late medieval and early modern picture of diabolical witchcraft can be attributed to several causes. First, the churchs experience with such dissident religious movements as the Albigenses and Cathari, who believed in a radical dualism of good and evil, led to the belief that certain people had allied themselves with Satan. As a result of confrontations with such heresy, the Inquisition was established by a series of papal decrees between 1227 and 1235. Pope Innocent IV authorized the use of torture in 1252, and Pope Alexander IV gave the Inquisition authority over all cases of sorcery involving heresy, although local courts carried out most actual prosecution of witches. At the same time, other developments created a climate in which alleged witches were stigmatized as representatives of evil. Since the middle of the 11th century, the theological and philosophical work of scholasticism had been refining the Christian concepts of Satan and evil. Theologians, influenced by Aristotelian rationalism, increasingly denied that natural miracles could take place and therefore alleged that anything supernatural and not of God must be due to commerce with Satan or his minions (see Aristotle). Later, the Reformation, the rise of science, and the emerging modern worldall challenges to traditional religioncreated deep anxieties in the orthodox population. At the dawn of the Renaissance (15th century to 16th century) some of these developments began to coalesce into the witch craze that possessed Europe from about 1450 to 1700. During this period, thousands of people, mostly innocent women, were executed on the basis of proofs or confessions of diabolical witchcraftthat is, of sorcery practiced through allegiance to Satanobtained by means of cruel tortures. A major impetus for the hysteria was the papal bull Summis Desiderantes issued by Pope Innocent VIII in 1484. It was included as a preface in the book Malleus Maleficarum (The Hammer of Witches), published by two Dominican inquisitors in 1486. This work, characterized by a distinct anti-feminine tenor, vividly describes the satanic and sexual abominations of witches. The book was translated into many languages and went through many editions in both Catholic and Protestant countries, outselling all other books except the Bible. .u3c6602a6be1651a576838d2128a49a0d , .u3c6602a6be1651a576838d2128a49a0d .postImageUrl , .u3c6602a6be1651a576838d2128a49a0d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u3c6602a6be1651a576838d2128a49a0d , .u3c6602a6be1651a576838d2128a49a0d:hover , .u3c6602a6be1651a576838d2128a49a0d:visited , .u3c6602a6be1651a576838d2128a49a0d:active { border:0!important; } .u3c6602a6be1651a576838d2128a49a0d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u3c6602a6be1651a576838d2128a49a0d { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u3c6602a6be1651a576838d2128a49a0d:active , .u3c6602a6be1651a576838d2128a49a0d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u3c6602a6be1651a576838d2128a49a0d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u3c6602a6be1651a576838d2128a49a0d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u3c6602a6be1651a576838d2128a49a0d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u3c6602a6be1651a576838d2128a49a0d .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u3c6602a6be1651a576838d2128a49a0d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u3c6602a6be1651a576838d2128a49a0d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u3c6602a6be1651a576838d2128a49a0d .u3c6602a6be1651a576838d2128a49a0d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u3c6602a6be1651a576838d2128a49a0d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Endangered Species EssayIn the years of the witch-hunting mania, people were encouraged to inform against one another. Professional witch finders identified and tested suspects for evidence of witchcraft and were paid a fee for each conviction. The most common test was pricking: All witches were supposed to have somewhere on their bodies a mark, made by the Devil, that was insensitive to pain; if such a spot was found, it was regarded as proof of witchcraft. Other proofs included additional breasts (supposedly used to suckle familiars), the inability to weep, and failure in the water test. In which, a woman was thrown into a body of water; if she sank, she was considered innocent, but if she stayed afloat, she was found guilty. This test, along with the others, was obviously dumb. For if the suspected was innocent, she was dead, and if she was a witch, she would be killed. And for the body mark test, to find this so called spot meant the suspect had to be poked and pricked all over her body till a spot that didnt hurt was found. This obviously caused the suspect a great deal of pain, and if the spot was found the victim still would have gone through torture to find it. The persecution of witches declined about 1700, banished by the Age of Enlightenment, which subjected such beliefs to a skeptical eye. One of the last outbreaks of witch-hunting took place in colonial Massachusetts in 1692, when belief in diabolical witchcraft was already declining in Europe. Twenty people . The Salem Witch Trials Essay Example For Students The Salem Witch Trials Essay Historical Overview and Brief AnalysisAmidst millenniums of debate, argument, and conflict concerning racial prejudges and those issues which surround their implementation, there has consistently existed a certain historical prejudice regarding various stereotypical ideas for those things which people can not understand or explain logically. While more contemporary examples of such circumstances include concepts such as McCarthyism, it is generally accepted that the most classic example of all such social tragedies based on fear and ignorance is that of the colonial eras Salem Witch Trials. While Mc Carthyism was illustrated as a widespread fear of communism that led the United States to pursue unnecessary investigations, imprisonments, and often unprovoked acts against those who were often only remotely accused of being a dreaded communist, the Salem witch trials led to well over a dozen executions of local women accused of practicing witchcraft and directly associating themselves with evil magic. Although the two historical periods were parallel in their nature and content, it can be argued the much earlier witch trials were the more severely inhumane and irrational as they rendered a constant trend of senseless deaths with little or no justice ever prevailing. We will write a custom essay on The Salem Witch Trials specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The Salem witch trials were held during the year 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony. Beginning in May of that year, the proceedings led to the hanging deaths of nineteen suspected witches and the imprisonment of many others over the five months that would follow. The courtroom episodes of those being tried for witchery were complete, and utter travesties of justice. Women were actually considered guilty as accused until proven innocent. In addition to the known hangings, other cruel forms of punishment such as the burning of witches on a stake and the slow torturous human crushings by brick are evidenced to have existed as Salems justice for their alleged witches. (Brown., Pages 37-41;43). That which is said to have initiated the trials and related hysteria has become an historical irony in our time and is the subject of many contemporary jokes and theatrical performances. Caused by the accusations of a few young girls against women in the Salem community; a special court was co nvened; and trials grew quickly into socially stereotypical prejudices regarding any women seen acting out of or performing witchery. Within time the social chaos did not even exclude Salems more prestigious women as the local governors wife was even implicated in accusations of witchcraft. The dramatic irony is re-exemplified through an examination of the young ladies who intentionally lied to a religious authority and created the spark to cause the fire. Based entirely on their beliefs and accusations, the fear and ignorance of an entire town led to hundreds of imprisonments and nearly two scores of senseless deaths. (Brown; Pp. 67-74). When community leaders did finally begin to cast doubt on evidence; special court was dissolved and those imprisoned were pardoned. Eventually indemnities were paid to the families of those killed yet of the three judges who presided over the trials, only Samuel Sewall admitted error in a public statement The Salem witch trials were clearly Americas most notorious episode of witchcraft. The actual practice of witch persecution, is not however one created in North America at all. The belief in witchcraft was carried to colonial America from Europe, where in the two centuries before 1650 thousands had been executed as witches. The Salem incident, as I wrote, began when two young girls in the household of the Reverend Samuel Parris began to behave oddly. The girls had participated in meetings at which incantations had been cast and attempts made to foretell the future. They were examined by a doctor, ministers, and magistrates, who all concluded that they were bewitched. The resulting f renzy spread rapidly and the new royal governor, Sir William Phips, established a special seven-member court in which to try the prisoners. Jurors were drawn from church membership lists, and the chained defendants had no counsel. In early June, Bridget Bishop was convicted. A brief delay followed because somejudges were uneasy about the validity of spectral evidence such as testimony givenby witnesses about voices or apparitions perceived only by them. The trials were resumed after several leading ministers advised the court The Salem witch trials Essay Example For Students The Salem witch trials Essay The Salem witch trials Essay began with the accusation of people in Salem of being witches. But the concept of witchcraft started far before these trials and false accusations occurred. In the early Christian centuries, the church was relatively tolerant of magical practices. Those who were proved to have engaged in witchcraft were required only to do penance. But in the late Middle Ages (13th century to 14th century) opposition to alleged witchcraft hardened as a result of the growing belief that all magic and miracles that did not come unambiguously from God came from the Devil and were therefore manifestations of evil. We will write a custom essay on The Salem witch trials specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Those who practiced simple sorcery, such as village wise women, were increasingly regarded as practitioners of diabolical witchcraft. They came to be viewed as individuals in league with Satan. Nearly all those who fell under suspicion of witchcraft were women, evidently regarded by witch-hunters as especially susceptible to the Devils blandishments. A lurid picture of the activities of witches emerged in the popular mind, including covens, or gatherings over which Satan presided; pacts with the Devil; flying broomsticks; and animal accomplices, or familiars. Although a few of these elements may represent vestiges of pre-Christian religion, the old religion probably did not persist in any organized form beyond the 14th century. The popular image of witchcraft, perhaps inspired by features of occultism or ceremonial magic as well as by theology concerning the Devil and his works of darkness, was given shape by the inflamed imagination of inquisitors and was confirmed by statements obtained under torture. The late medieval and early modern picture of diabolical witchcraft can be attributed to several causes. First, the churchs experience with such dissident religious movements as the Albigenses and Cathari, who believed in a radical dualism of good and evil, led to the belief that certain people had allied themselves with Satan. As a result of confrontations with such heresy, the Inquisition was established by a series of papal decrees between 1227 and 1235. Pope Innocent IV authorized the use of torture in 1252, and Pope Alexander IV gave the Inquisition authority over all cases of sorcery involving heresy, although local courts carried out most actual prosecution of witches. At the same time, other developments created a climate in which alleged witches were stigmatized as representatives of evil. Since the middle of the 11th century, the theological and philosophical work of scholasticism had been refining the Christian concepts of Satan and evil. Theologians, influenced by Aristotelian rationalism, increasingly denied that natural miracles could take place and therefore alleged that anything supernatural and not of God must be due to commerce with Satan or his minions (see Aristotle). Later, the Reformation, the rise of science, and the emerging modern worldall challenges to traditional religioncreated deep anxieties in the orthodox population. At the dawn of the Renaissance (15th century to 16th century) some of these developments began to coalesce into the witch craze that possessed Europe from about 1450 to 1700. During this period, thousands of people, mostly innocent women, were executed on the basis of proofs or confessions of diabolical witchcraftthat is, of sorcery practiced through allegiance to Satanobtained by means of cruel tortures. A major impetus for the hysteria was the papal bull Summis Desiderantes issued by Pope Innocent VIII in 1484. It was included as a preface in the book Malleus Maleficarum (The Hammer of Witches), published by two Dominican inquisitors in 1486. This work, characterized by a distinct anti-feminine tenor, vividly describes the satanic and sexual abominations of witches. The book was translated into many languages and went through many editions in both Catholic and Protestant countries, outselling all other books except the Bible. .u14f3daebd811745c843dd98f684986c8 , .u14f3daebd811745c843dd98f684986c8 .postImageUrl , .u14f3daebd811745c843dd98f684986c8 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u14f3daebd811745c843dd98f684986c8 , .u14f3daebd811745c843dd98f684986c8:hover , .u14f3daebd811745c843dd98f684986c8:visited , .u14f3daebd811745c843dd98f684986c8:active { border:0!important; } .u14f3daebd811745c843dd98f684986c8 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u14f3daebd811745c843dd98f684986c8 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u14f3daebd811745c843dd98f684986c8:active , .u14f3daebd811745c843dd98f684986c8:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u14f3daebd811745c843dd98f684986c8 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u14f3daebd811745c843dd98f684986c8 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u14f3daebd811745c843dd98f684986c8 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u14f3daebd811745c843dd98f684986c8 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u14f3daebd811745c843dd98f684986c8:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u14f3daebd811745c843dd98f684986c8 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u14f3daebd811745c843dd98f684986c8 .u14f3daebd811745c843dd98f684986c8-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u14f3daebd811745c843dd98f684986c8:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Human Rights EssayIn the years of the witch-hunting mania, people were encouraged to inform against one another. Professional witch finders identified and tested suspects for evidence of witchcraft and were paid a fee for each conviction. The most common test was pricking: All witches were supposed to have somewhere on their bodies a mark, made by the Devil, that was insensitive to pain; if such a spot was found, it was regarded as proof of witchcraft. Other proofs included additional breasts (supposedly used to suckle familiars), the inability to weep, and failure in the water test. In which, a woman was thrown into a body of water; if she sank, she was considered innocent, but if she stayed afloat, she was found guilty. This test, along with the others, was obviously dumb. For if the suspected was innocent, she was dead, and if she was a witch, she would be killed. And for the body mark test, to find this so called spot meant the suspect had to be poked and pricked all over her body till a spot that didnt hurt was found. This obviously caused the suspect a great deal of pain, and if the spot was found the victim still would have gone through torture to find it. The persecution of witches declined about 1700, banished by the Age of Enlightenment, which subjected such beliefs to a skeptical eye. One of the last outbreaks of witch-hunting took place in colonial Massachusetts in 1692, when belief in diabolical witchcraft was already declining in Europe. Twenty people . The Salem Witch Trials Essay Example For Students The Salem Witch Trials Essay The Salem Witch Trials Essay Mr. John Hathorn, a Judge involved in the witchcraft case of Sarah Good, then asked all of the afflicted children to look upon her and see if this was the person that had hurt them so. They all gazed at Goody Good and said that this was the person that tormented thempresently they were all tormented. Puritanical beliefs had all of Salem truly believing that witches rode on broomsticks across the sky every night alongside the devil himself. They believed that these mere humans could send their specter out and haunt the children of their town. We will write a custom essay on The Salem Witch Trials specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Proof of their belief follows, in an excerpt from Cotton Mathers Memorable Providences: Go tell Mankind, that there are Devils and Witches; and that tho those night-birds least appear where the Day-light of the Gospel comes, yet New-Engl. has had Exemples of their Existence and Operation; and that no only the Wigwams of Indians, where the pagan Powaws often raise their masters, in the shapes of Bears and Snakes and Fires, but the House of Christians, where our God has had his constant Worship, have undergone the Annoyance of Evil spirits. Go tell the world, What Prays can do beyond all Devils and Witches, and What it is that these Monsters love to do; and through the Demons in the Audience of several standers-by threatned much disgrace to thy Author, if he let thee come abroad, yet venture That, and in this way seek a just Revenge on Them for the Disturbance they have given to such as have called on the Name of God. Rebecca Nurse Goody Nurse was a highly regarded, pious pillar of the community who unfortunately could not withstand the power of hysteria. There were many reasons that Rebecca was accused, but it was mostly the hatred exhibited towards her by the Putnam family. She was against Samuel Parris as Reverend of the Salem Town Church, while the Putnam family was his friend, and her husband was at war with the Putnam family estate over some land. Rebecca exuded a saint-like presence over the dark days of the witch-hunt. After her accusation, thirty-nine of the most prominent leaders of the community signed a petition attesting to Rebeccas goodness of heart. Even one of her original accusers, Jonathan Putnam, put his name to the appeal. During her trial, Sarah Holton testified that Goody Nurse killed her husband, Benjamin, because she found his pigs in her field. In actuality, Benjamin Holton died of a heart attack three years after the pig incident. In further evidence against Nurse, Ann Putnam, Sr. , whom we have already established as being unfairly biased, testified before the court. She claimed that apparitions of Goody Nurse came to her and choked her in the night while the spirit proclaimed all of the people she had killed (the list incidentally included Benjamin Holton). Fortunately, the speculative evidence against Rebecca Nurse was not substantial enough to convict her; on June 30, the jury came back with a verdict of not guilty. The afflicted children broke out in tantrums and hideous screaming fits and Chief Justice Stoughton urged the jury to reconsider. They came back with a decision of guilty. As if this was not punishment enough, Nurse was excommunicated from her church on July 3. This proved to be most devastating to a God-fearing, pious woman. Goody Nurse, at age 71, was executed on July 19, 1692. Sarah Good Sarah Good fit the ultimate stereotype of a witch: the lonely beggar, fed up with society, arguing with anyone that would not give his or her charity. She was destined to be accused; it was only a matter of time before an accused witch, Tituba, would sacrifice her soul for her life. Tituba confessed to being a witch and named Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne as fellow witches. .uec77229e038ad1a47b5950c6cdeb9006 , .uec77229e038ad1a47b5950c6cdeb9006 .postImageUrl , .uec77229e038ad1a47b5950c6cdeb9006 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uec77229e038ad1a47b5950c6cdeb9006 , .uec77229e038ad1a47b5950c6cdeb9006:hover , .uec77229e038ad1a47b5950c6cdeb9006:visited , .uec77229e038ad1a47b5950c6cdeb9006:active { border:0!important; } .uec77229e038ad1a47b5950c6cdeb9006 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uec77229e038ad1a47b5950c6cdeb9006 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uec77229e038ad1a47b5950c6cdeb9006:active , .uec77229e038ad1a47b5950c6cdeb9006:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uec77229e038ad1a47b5950c6cdeb9006 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uec77229e038ad1a47b5950c6cdeb9006 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uec77229e038ad1a47b5950c6cdeb9006 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uec77229e038ad1a47b5950c6cdeb9006 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uec77229e038ad1a47b5950c6cdeb9006:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uec77229e038ad1a47b5950c6cdeb9006 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uec77229e038ad1a47b5950c6cdeb9006 .uec77229e038ad1a47b5950c6cdeb9006-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uec77229e038ad1a47b5950c6cdeb9006:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The cuban mile EssayDuring her trial, as can be imagined many people came forward to testify against Good. Seven people testified against her general attitude; however, the most detrimental to Good was the examination of her own daughter, who confessed herself and mother as being witches. Susannah Sheldon testified as to apparitions that were seen of Mrs. Good. The following was taken, verbatim, from the original court .