Witches And The Puritan Society - 921 Words

In the 17th century church was the foundation of the people of New England. The main religion of the time was Puritanism which carried over when most of the colonist moved to Massachusetts. The main reason that the colonist moved was to find religious tolerance away from the strict Puritan lifestyle. Puritans believed that the smallest sin could result in a huge misfortune. They were also frowned upon for expressing their feelings and opinions, and were expected to have no individual differences. They believed in the devil just as much as they believed in God. The Puritan people constantly struggled between good and evil, which often led to giving into the temptation of Satan. Those who gave into the temptations and followed Satan were considered witches. Witchcraft to the Puritan people was one of the worst crimes committed and those who committed it were sentenced to death. Most of those who were believed to be witches were females. To the Puritans, witches were usually female beca use they were believed to have made a promise to Satan. The Puritans used witchcraft as a way to prove that Satan and his powers were real. The witch craze took over the small Puritan area of Salem Village, Massachusetts in 1692. It was late February of 1692 when the Reverend Parris had a doctor take a look at her daughter, Betty and his niece, Abigail after long term strange fits. The fits included seizures, horrifying screams, erratic behaviors and the appearance of bruises and bites onShow MoreRelatedThe Salem Witch Trial1152 Words   |  5 Pagesbecause of one factor such as Ergotism, but several more. The affliction started by mind suggestion. The early beliefs and superstitions in Puritanical society that were practiced on an everyday basis supported the idea that the behaviors and physical conditions of the afflicted girls were the evil works of the witches, and the Devil. Among many Puritans, this belief becomes a fear, and then this fear becomes like an additional topping that adds up to causing convulsive hysteria and also hallucinationsRead MoreAmerican Horror Story: Witch Hunt702 Words   |  3 PagesThe fear of and execution of witches isnt only an American horror story, this particular hunt was in place in England before. In 1542 parliament made witchcraft a capital crime, and between the years of 1645-1647 several hundred were hanged(Karlsen 2). Although in theory, men and children could be witches but still ninety percent of the witches hanged in England were women. The country feared the witches because of the belief that they caused harm on neighbors and properties, also called maleficium(KarlsenRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trial Hysteria1196 Words   |  5 Pagesconsisted of Puritans, both Separatists and non Separatists alike. From the start, the Puritans believed that the Bible was true in all aspects: every word, every idea, every thought--was true. The Puritans also had minimal understanding of science, which led them to believe that phe nomenon was an act of the Devil. Thus, when three young girls admitted to seeing demons and started behaving strangely, the Puritans grew progressively hysterical because they became more convinced that witches existed withinRead MoreThe Crucible Reflection1083 Words   |  5 PagesThe Crucible takes place in Old New England during the time when Puritans were the dominant culture. The movie is based around incidents that sparked the Salem witch trials. In 1692 a woman by the name of Abigail Williams, the niece of the esteemed Reverend Parris, and a group of her friends where playing in the forest with an African American Slave named Tituba in Salem, Massachutes. They were caught with the slave and questioned. Unfortunately, when they were caught one of the girls, Betty, fainted;Read MoreAn Analysis of Theme in Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown Essays860 Words   |  4 PagesNathaniel Hawthorne, in his short story â€Å"Young Goodman Brown,† details the frailty of human moralit y when he has the story’s protagonist (Goodman Brown) journey through the forest on All Hollows Eve to witness/participate in a witches’ Sabbath just to see what evil/sin is all about. During Young Goodman Brown’s journey, his faith is shaken as he witnesses those he respects the most also journeying to and participating in the witch’s Sabbath. In â€Å"Young Goodman Brown,† Nathaniel Hawthorne demonstratesRead More Salem Lifestyle Triggers Death Essay1660 Words   |  7 Pagesthe unstable condition of the village, and the colonists’ way of life. The colonists of Salem village were Puritans, and the preachings of this religion played a major role in the cause of the trials. The religion in the colony was based upon Puritan theology. Puritan theology was influenced by John Calvin, who believed that the â€Å"elect† would prosper (Burner 43). All of the Puritans believed that God set up the social classes in each community. If someone was meant to prosper during their lifeRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials : Witchcraft And Magic Were Two Ideas1180 Words   |  5 Pagespeople accused of being witches in Salem, Massachusetts did not practice witchcraft. The Puritans were falsely accused of sorcery which can be proven through many theories and the false credibility of legal evidence. The lifestyle of the Puritans may have influenced the witch craze. According to the Discovery School Web Site, the Puritans had restricted lives; they were expected to repress inner emotions and opinions and if they weren’t they’d be punished. The small Puritan colony of MassachusettsRead MoreSalem Witch Trials1478 Words   |  6 Pagespracticing witchcraft. These trials were caused by different social climates of the area including the very strong lack of a governor, the split between Salem Village and Salem Town, and the strict puritan lifestyle during the time period. Tituba, the black slave, was a foreigner from Barbados. Her role in society was to take care of Mr. Parris’s family. Tituba’s situation contributed to her role in the witch trials because Mr. Parris promised her freedom if she confessed guilty. Tituba also realized thatRead MoreA Delusion Of Satan By Frances Hill Essay1532 Words   |  7 Pagestrials. In the novel, Hill started out exp laining the Puritans’ beliefs and customs, the gender roles of men and women in Salem and why women were easily accused of being witches and practicing witchcraft in the 17th century. During that time, women were easily accused of practicing witchcraft because they were viewed as physically, politically and spiritually weaker than men. Men were perceived as the power, status, and worthy in the society, and they dominated women’s behavior and social statusRead MoreSalem Witch Trials Paranoia Essay1629 Words   |  7 PagesTrials shook the Puritan foundation of America. There was fear linked to the Devil and how it is omnipresence. The Puritan belief in the Devil psychologically had a profound effect on New England anxiety. Most of the people in Massachusetts were Puritan colonists who fled England, seeking religious tolerance, but the Puritan beliefs and rules were far from tolerant. The Puritans believed that witchcraft wasn’t only reasonable, but it was also s cientifically rational. To the Puritans, the Devil was