Paul Boyer and Stephen Nissenbaum’s book Salem Possessed: The Social Origins of Witchcraft is separated into 10 chapters: Prologue: What Happened in 1692; 1692: Some new Perspectives; In Quest of Community, 1639-1687; Afflicted Village, 1688-1697; Salem Town and Salem Village: The Dynamics of Factional Conflict; Two Families: The Porters and the Putnams; Joseph and His Brothers: A Story of the Putnam Family; Samuel Parris: A Pilgrim in Bethlehem; Witchcraft and Social Identity; and Epilogue: To the Eighteenth Century. Each chapter is subdivided into segments such as “Witchcraft”, “Stopping the Trials: Ministers and the Question of Evidence” and “The Development of Village Factionalism.”
Salem Possessed includes a seven page preface and finishes …show more content…
The book begins by discussing the different patterns of accusations against the witches; these include pace, status, and geography. In chapter two, Boyer and Nissenbaum mention the “Bayley Dispute” where they say it played a crucial part in understanding the outbreak of witchcraft. They continue by stating that the “Bayley Dispute” intensified and exposed “certain destructive patterns of political behavior.” In the next section of the book, Boyer and Nissenbaum explain the afflicted village of Salem. In the fourth chapter, the authors explain in detail the four types of factions involved in the persecution: church, membership, wealth, and geography. Also, the authors pose the question “Why Salem Village?” Here, they talk about “physical setting, lack of autonomy, taste of independence, lack of power in town politics, and a weak stick in Boston” (107). The Porters and the Putnams are the two main families Salem Possessed mentions. Chapter five is about these two families and their achievements, lives, and role in the witch trials. The next chapter is titled “Joseph and His Brothers: A Story of the Putnam Family.” In this chapter, Boyer and Nissenbaum discuss the dominance of the Putnam family and digs deeper about the family compared to chapter five. Chapter seven gives background to reverend Samuel Parris. Although he was mentioned in previous chapters, this chapter describes who he is. The final chapter of the book is about witchcraft and social identity. This chapter show how the other chapters relate to each other. The epilogue gives background on Salem after the witch trials and how the town was
Salem Possessed includes a seven page preface and finishes …show more content…
The book begins by discussing the different patterns of accusations against the witches; these include pace, status, and geography. In chapter two, Boyer and Nissenbaum mention the “Bayley Dispute” where they say it played a crucial part in understanding the outbreak of witchcraft. They continue by stating that the “Bayley Dispute” intensified and exposed “certain destructive patterns of political behavior.” In the next section of the book, Boyer and Nissenbaum explain the afflicted village of Salem. In the fourth chapter, the authors explain in detail the four types of factions involved in the persecution: church, membership, wealth, and geography. Also, the authors pose the question “Why Salem Village?” Here, they talk about “physical setting, lack of autonomy, taste of independence, lack of power in town politics, and a weak stick in Boston” (107). The Porters and the Putnams are the two main families Salem Possessed mentions. Chapter five is about these two families and their achievements, lives, and role in the witch trials. The next chapter is titled “Joseph and His Brothers: A Story of the Putnam Family.” In this chapter, Boyer and Nissenbaum discuss the dominance of the Putnam family and digs deeper about the family compared to chapter five. Chapter seven gives background to reverend Samuel Parris. Although he was mentioned in previous chapters, this chapter describes who he is. The final chapter of the book is about witchcraft and social identity. This chapter show how the other chapters relate to each other. The epilogue gives background on Salem after the witch trials and how the town was