...From there, the project research was moved to the colony of Connecticut. The resources detailing witchcraft in Connecticut also revealed a variety of approaches to narrating historical events. Take the work by John Demos titled Entertaining Satan: Witchcraft and the Culture of Early New England. In this article, Demos detailed witchcraft in Connecticut through the veil of Gender Studies as a social movement primarily targeted at women living on the fringes of colonial society. According to Demos, this phenomenon explained why women were victims at a ratio of four to one verses their male counterparts. This methodology is markedly different than the narrative approach utilized by Cynthia Wolfe Boynton. Using an approach based on corroborating evidence from firsthand accounts, arrest records, and government documents preserved in the Connecticut state archives, Boynton attempted to relay each instance of witchcraft in the colony with as much detail as historical evidence could allow. This allowed her to piece together the story of the first recorded instance of a condemned witch being hanged in the British colonies: Alyse Youngs of Windsor Connecticut was publicly executed for witchcraft in 1647. After exploring the tragic end of Youngs and other cases depicted by Boynton, this research project moved southwards from...
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...“Salem Possessed: The Social Origins of Witchcraft,” written by Paul Boyer and Stephan Nissenbaum, is a nonfiction book about the Salem witchcraft trials and how they came to light during the time of 1692. Boyer and Stephan wrote the book after taking an undergraduate research class at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst that required them to research a topic using “extended use of primary sources” (Salem preface). The book incorporates the religious, social, economic, and demographic factors that contribute to the accusations of witchcraft rather than focus on the witchery. Their stance was to prove, using extensive research and records, that the Salem witchcraft trials were not really based on the actuality of sorcery but that of the...
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...Paganism is a group of religions, while Wiccan is just one. Wiccans and Pagans are not terms to describe sexual outsiders, devil worship or the practice of harming people or animals. Wiccans and Pagans practice earth based worship. Most Wiccans practice witchcraft, however not all pagans practice witchcraft. Paganism does not have a founder, Wicca does. In Paganism, you do not have to practice witchcraft. In Wicca, witchcraft is usually practiced. A person who considers themselves a Pagan, usually is Polytheistic. Polytheistic means one believes in more than one deity, whether that is a god or goddess. In Wicca, some believe in just a God, some believe in just a Goddess, and some believe in both. There are even some who believe in a number of gods and goddesses. Both Wicca and Pagans use many objects in their practices or studies. Both Wiccans and pagans will use what is called Magikal tools. These are known to include, incense, candles, athames; usually known as a black handled knife, the broom; used to ‘sweep’ away negative energies, the cup or chalice, used to hold things...
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...witch craze in Europe, where many were executed and persecuted for witchcraft. Approximately eighty five percent of those executed for witchcraft were women and this frenzy continued in Europe all the way to the early twentieth century. The loss of life was so severe that it has been referred to some researchers as a holocaust. Did this hysteria against witchcraft reduce their numbers? No. The more violently they were executed, the more in number they became. Most of those executed were women and this form of massive attack on women signifies a type of genocide; one that focuses on gender rather than on a religious or ethnic group. In Reformation Europe, women were overwhelmingly tried as witches. In France and Germany, more than eighty percent of those executed as witches and in England, ninety two percent of those executed for witchcraft were women and in Russia, approximately ninety five percent were also put to death (Trevor 214). The practice of witch hunts subsided by late seventeenth century and by early eighteenth century, witchcraft trials were rare. The causes for the decline of witch hunts are numerous and complex. This paper will attempt to analyze the witch craze phenomenon concentrating on several questions: why did women suffer the majority of the executions? Why did the witch craze end in the seventeenth century? Why was there a sudden increased attention to black magic, and witchcraft? The paper will also analyze the social, political, institutional, and philosophical...
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...Tragic Times In Salem Salem Witch Trials The Salem Witch Trials was a horrific event that occurred in colonial Massachusetts between the years 1692 and 1693. More than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft and 20 ended up being executed. Some researchers believe that there may have been other current events that were affecting the trials during the same time period. Throughout this research paper I will explain the Salem Witch Trials and show the research I have done in terms of the events that may have a connection to the event, along with other factors that may have influenced the Salem Witch Trials. In the late 16 hundreds in colonial North America, the supernatural was highly considered to be a part of everyday life. Many people were strong believers that Satan was present and active on Earth. These beliefs were first formed in Europe during the fifteenth century and later spread throughout North America. Peasants were known for often using a particular kind of witchcraft to help enhance their crops, and to benefit farming and agriculture. Over time, the idea of witchcraft transformed into a very evil act. It started to became associated with demons and evil spirits. From 1560 to 1670, witchcraft persecutions became common as superstitions became associated with the devil. Through out the colonies, the most common cause for a witch hunt was caused by young girls having a mysterious screaming fit; they would often be diagnosed as having been bewitched...
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...Witch-Hunts, Then and Now Witch-Hunts, Then and Now, is the topic I have chosen for my research paper, which will define similarities and differences between the “Salem Witch Trials” and “The Second Red Scare”. The actions that took place during both events played on the fears of citizens to further the personal, political and social agendas of those individuals that conducted the trials. These two events are just two examples of how history repeated itself, where hysteria of the masses has been used as justification to trample on the basic rights that we, as humans, have come to believe as essential to our lives. I chose this research project because the effect of the McCarthy era tactics that infringed on the Constitutional rights of many Americans can be seen today in the policies and actions implemented since September 11, 2001. As an American, I am disturbed to see that we as a people and our government appear not to have learned from our past. During the eras of the Salem Witch Trials and that of McCarthyism, there existed a fear that the values of each society were being threatened from both internal and external entities. During the Court of Oyer and Terminer, influential members of the Salem community used the trials to punish ministers with in the colony who were seen as tolerant to other religions. There was a movement within the colony to relax the strict customs of the Puritans, but the community leaders wanted to maintain a tight control on their spiritual beliefs...
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...The Crucible Research Paper Assignment During 1692, mass hysteria emerged in Massachusetts over the growing beliefs of witchcraft. People who believed in witchcraft had the notion that that the Devil could give certain people known as witches the power to harm others in exchange for their loyalty. This craze was probably inspired by a similar incident in Europe that just recently ended at the time. Within one year in Salem, over 200 people were accused of being witches and 19 men and women were convicted and hanged at Gallows Hill as punishment. In addition, a man over 80 years old was killed after put under mass amounts of weight as a result from denying the charges put on him. These accusations were all lies that resulted from the ongoing frontier war, economic conditions, congregational strife, teenage boredom, fear of Native Indian attacks, and personal jealousies. In 1689, a few years before the whole witchcraft hysteria began, the English rulers William and Mary proclaimed war with France in the 13 colonies of the United States. Known as King William’s war, it caused hundreds of people to migrate into Salem, Massachusetts for refuge. The population in fluctuation affected the economy because resources became scarce. As a result, people started to become sick and social relations became tense. In response, people became aggravated and a lot of quarreling occurred. In addition, the people were very scared about being attacked by the Native Americans. People started to...
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...Prosecutions, accusations, consequences The Salem witch trials were once known as “the devil’s magic” because of the witchcraft being used. Mary easty a victim of prosecution during the witch trials said “I never complied, but prayed against [Satan] all my days… I will say it, if it was my last time, I’m clear of all this sin”. These accusations led to consequences therefore, result as vicious prosecutions. During that time, the Salem witch trials were very prejudiced toward anyone. The circumstances that induced to the Salem witch trials were irrational. It all started “during the spring of 1692, after a group of young girls in Salem Village, Massachusetts, claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused several local women of witchcraft.”...
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...Salem witch trials This research paper is to show the events of the Salem witch trail of 1692 and how it affected American literature. Authors who were inspired to tell the story have written multiple books. The authors wrote about how the resident turned on each other to get what they wanted, and the strict supersticous religious practice they followed. And to tell the personal conflicts that had existed throughout the community. The Salem witch trail began in February 1692 due to a group of teenage girls playing fortune-telling game to see whom their future husband would be. They were caught in the act of fortunetelling game witch is not acceptable in there puritan society. After these event Betty Parris, Abigail Williams, Ann Putnam Jr, Mary Walcott and Mercy Lewis, Elizabeth Hubbard, Susannah Sheldon, Mary Warren and Elizabeth Booth started to show symptoms. The symptom the girls started to experience fits, hiding under furniture, uncontrollable pain and experiencing fever. In February Samuel Parris called for doctor to come and check if there was anything medically wrong with the girls. The doctor was unable to find any problems with the girls. The doctor later suggested that The girls might be bewitched. The girls later began to name people who they believed bewitched them. They named the social outcast of Salem. They accused three women, the three women they accused were Sarah Good, Sarah Osborn and a slave named Tituba. These women were seen as easy target to...
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...Emily Byford AP European History Mr. Ehrean Research Paper Witch Craze DBQ During the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries in Europe, the persecution of of individuals as witches was common. Witches were persecuted in most of Europe, and trials were held anywhere from Germany to France. At least 100,000 accused witches were put on trial. People were persecuted for reasons such as differences in social class or gender. Others were put on trial because of a personal disagreement or conflict with an accuser. Still, others were accused because numerous people hoped to gain wealth from the prosecution. The persecution of people as witches in Europe was widely based on personal matters. A difference in the way someone looked or acted made some people question if he or she practiced sorcery. This is stated by W. Fulbecke in 1618. He expressed that the elderly were not a wholesome and virtuous group of people, and as they aged, they purposefully spreaded the disease of malevolence to society. "The bodies of aged persons are impure... they use their very breath and their sight... to the vexation and destruction of others." (Fulbecke, 1618). Fulbecke believed that because the elderly were generally weak, the Devil inhabited them and controlled them to destroy others. Women were accused of sorcery and witchcraft much more than men were. "Women are naturally more impressionable, and more ready to receive the influence of a disembodied spirit; and when they use this quality well they...
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...for centuries. The modern church needs to be aware of the insidious threat posed by this seemingly platonic worldview so that the church, from pastors to congregation, can be adequately equipped to identify, pray and witness against this threat. Wiccans claim that Satan is a myth (and a Christian one at that) and that they believe in no such being. The Holy Bible, the inerrant word of God, says otherwise. There are only two sides in the eternal conflict that humankind is involved in and either we serve God or Satan. This paper will prove this fact and outline the stark differences between Wiccan and a Christian Theistic worldview. Jesus Christ is the key to salvation and without acceptance for His sacrifice; eternal damnation is the ultimate destination. The Bible denounces any and all occult practices. “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.” Deuteronomy 18:10-12. Discussion Modern day practitioners of Wicca tend to alter historical...
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...A theory that was elaborated on was cold weather. The afflicted were during a cold weather in Salem. During 16th-18th century, witches are believed to have supernatural powers such as control weather. The document, Malleus Maleficarum, outlined what witches were capable of. “Among the list was the list was the ability to conjure up storms, control lighting and, perhaps most importantly, destroy crops in the field”(Kelly et al). It was easy to accuse anybody of being a witch, because the farmers’ crops were dying and they need someone to blame for the misfortune. Others believed witches were casting a cold spell and destroying crops on purpose to make others suffer. Salem suffered an extremely cold period from 1680-1730. “[Emily]...founded...
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...the injustices that many women and men faced from unfair trials that ended many people’s lives, or how witch trials are still occurring all over the globe today. The events of the Salem Witch Trials in 1692 stand as a difficult testament to a troubling period in history. The historic event sheds light on the severe injustices suffered by women within a deeply rooted patriarchal society. This research paper aims to uncover the various forms of discrimination and oppression endured by women during the Salem Trials, but also the enduring forms...
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...The Myth of Dracula Jenny Martinez, Com 220 University of Phoenix Cole Chatterton January 9, 2008 THE MYTH OF DRACULA In October of 1999, a television series began that would run for approximately four and a half years. This series would again sate the American appetite for vampire stories begun by the likes of Bram Stoker, Anne Rice, Tanith Lee, and Chelsea Quinn Yarbro. The name of the series? Angel. The Premise? A vampire, originally named Angelus, had been cursed by a gypsy victim, with a soul, and could no longer kill humans. And if he fell in love with one, his dark side would return, which he feared more than anything else. The series featured many flashbacks to many centuries past because the vampires depicted were several centuries old. Not only that, but the vampire had true eye-appeal for the female audience. He was tall, dark, and handsome, just like almost every vampire in almost every myth America has ever heard (Angel site, 2004). But could such a creature truly exist? Although the vampire myth is present in many societies around the world through the centuries, there is a basis in science and fact, for this legend. To start off with, one of the most popular modern vampire stories, written in 1897, was Bram Stoker’s Dracula. To this day, it sets the bar for the modern vampire. Authors have a tendency to pull juicy pieces of many different tales together to patchwork them into something to hold the reader’s interest. ...
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...INSTRUCTOR SASHUR HENNIGER MICHELLE GLOVER PAGE 1 ZULU Zulu the three aspects of culture which will be used in the final cultural research paper, which I have done my research on Zulu, I thought it would be very interested in their cultural and Religious Traditions along with their Kinship ,and Sickness and Healing. Cultural and Religious Traditions Because of the impact of its colonial history on the nations political and economic and sociocultural, its is generally is identified more with southern Africa then with central Africa. Zulu is identify as a landlocked country, in 1980 a lot of groups struggle for their independent especially the European Cultures and their values helped shaped the urban along with the rural landscapes, after studying the Zulu cultural its seems more obvious then other cultures there’s a difference in Economics which is referred to African and Europeans when the whites and minority had lost political power after Independent Most of the African Widows Live in proverty, when their husbands dies they would be in mourning the majority of widows was caught up in witchcrafts. The Zulu people believed that there Religion is a force to be reckoned with. Zulu people are descended of the NGUNI people and they are known for their beads, every color has a different meaning, Zulu people are so talented...
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