Many superstitions are examples of post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacies. During the times of the Salem witch trials, the ignorance of the people prevented them from thinking rationally and they quickly adapted to blaming their misfortunes on other unrelated objects and people. After Dr. Hale arrives to examine Betty, Giles asks him if he should worry about his wife because she reads books: “ Last night -mark this- I tried and tried and could not say my prayers. And then she closed her book and walks out of the house, and suddenly -mark this- I could pray again!” (Miller 40). Miller implies that Giles fears that because he cannot pray when his wife reads that she may have fallen under the devil’s spell and participates in witchcraft. Miller
