Since Creation, man has feared the unknown, the dark, the mysterious. For man, the unknown is thought of as dangerous; children have feared the dark of their rooms, men have feared the unknown outcome of a battle, settlements have feared foreigners and isolated people, sometimes as witches. Fear of witchcraft climaxed in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1693 with the dread of demons and people under their influence. Some may have falsely accused neighbors, some plead guilty, knowing that if they admitted guilt when innocent they would be released. The Salem witch hysteria resulted from the beliefs of the people, their circumstances, and their response to their circumstances.
Widespread belief in witches prepared Massachusetts for the witch-hunt. Witches were believed to exist by all in Salem, not just the Puritans. Some in Salem did practice at least one of two kinds of witchcraft. Possibly the witchcraft practiced was superstitious, such as mixing potions to cure ailments; However, it could have been demonic, in which witches called upon the devil or demons for their power. Furthermore, Cotton Mather, a respectable and religious man and leader, was deeply concerned with exposing and defeating witchcraft. The existence of witches was accepted by all and debated by none, for all in Salem believed the Bible to affirm their existence.
Given their beliefs, the people of Salem searched for an explanation of their strange circumstances. Salem’s wise leader, Increase Mather, had left the leadership of the colony to his son Cotton while he went to England to fight for the colony’s interests. Also, at the time of the Salem witch trials, the colonial governmental structure was changing and it became less well-defined. Then, in 1693, two girls began acting strangely. Many believed that they were bewitched. Thus began the Salem witch hysteria, a blend of beliefs, circumstances, and their results.
Confronted with the circumstances, the people of Salem acted according to their beliefs and judged those accused of being witches. For the case of the bewitched girls, three women were tried, but afterwards the problems did not stop. Rather more children appeared bewitched, and more people were tried. A special court was set up for the purpose of trying witches. The special court existed only as long as witches could be found; perhaps the innocent were accused merely to justify the court’s existence. Spectral evidence was allowed in court, thus anyone could claim to have seen another using demonic powers and the court would consider it as a verifiable indication. Salem spiraled until someone accused the governor’s wife, but not until then was the court disbanded.
The beliefs, the circumstances, and the response of the people of Salem caused the witch hysteria. Superstition could have obscured people’s faith in God. Perhaps the allowance of spectral evidence clouded the judgment of the court. Maybe the blend of religion and justice blurred the verdict. Fear of the unknown over faith in God for what man cannot see underlies the Salem affair. Until man is perfected he must be on his guard for lack of faith and fear of the unknown.
Widespread belief in witches prepared Massachusetts for the witch-hunt. Witches were believed to exist by all in Salem, not just the Puritans. Some in Salem did practice at least one of two kinds of witchcraft. Possibly the witchcraft practiced was superstitious, such as mixing potions to cure ailments; However, it could have been demonic, in which witches called upon the devil or demons for their power. Furthermore, Cotton Mather, a respectable and religious man and leader, was deeply concerned with exposing and defeating witchcraft. The existence of witches was accepted by all and debated by none, for all in Salem believed the Bible to affirm their existence.
Given their beliefs, the people of Salem searched for an explanation of their strange circumstances. Salem’s wise leader, Increase Mather, had left the leadership of the colony to his son Cotton while he went to England to fight for the colony’s interests. Also, at the time of the Salem witch trials, the colonial governmental structure was changing and it became less well-defined. Then, in 1693, two girls began acting strangely. Many believed that they were bewitched. Thus began the Salem witch hysteria, a blend of beliefs, circumstances, and their results.
Confronted with the circumstances, the people of Salem acted according to their beliefs and judged those accused of being witches. For the case of the bewitched girls, three women were tried, but afterwards the problems did not stop. Rather more children appeared bewitched, and more people were tried. A special court was set up for the purpose of trying witches. The special court existed only as long as witches could be found; perhaps the innocent were accused merely to justify the court’s existence. Spectral evidence was allowed in court, thus anyone could claim to have seen another using demonic powers and the court would consider it as a verifiable indication. Salem spiraled until someone accused the governor’s wife, but not until then was the court disbanded.
The beliefs, the circumstances, and the response of the people of Salem caused the witch hysteria. Superstition could have obscured people’s faith in God. Perhaps the allowance of spectral evidence clouded the judgment of the court. Maybe the blend of religion and justice blurred the verdict. Fear of the unknown over faith in God for what man cannot see underlies the Salem affair. Until man is perfected he must be on his guard for lack of faith and fear of the unknown.
Brad (grade 10)
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