Individuality In 'The Heretic's Daughter'

The Heretic 's Daughter is a heartfelt and riveting tale of a family during the Salem witch trials who faced many perilous battles and had to learn the importance of faith and trust. The story is gripping and powerful and tells the tale from a realistic standpoint, beginning with a letter to Lydia from Sarah Carrier Chapman, telling about the witch trials and struggles she endured from her point of view, and ending with a detailed explanation of what became of her family after they were released. The Heretic 's Daughter goes to show that individuality can be threatening at first, however, it is necessary in society because contradictory personal values and morals make for a balanced society, proven by characters, Sarah, Grandmother, Margaret, and Aunt Mary, examples of women who were shamed for being different, but persevered to the end. Sarah Carrier, daughter of Martha and Thomas Carrier, was accused of being a witch multiple times throughout the story. She was threatened and tormented by other girls simply because she was different. Her individualism stood out, therefore, making her a target for …show more content…
Sarah, Aunt Mary, Margaret, and Grandmother chose to stand out and be different in ways, such as, sticking to their own morals and not giving up on themselves. They did not allow for society to seep in, changing their opinions, and stayed true to themselves. A balanced society needs diversity and a solid mixture of different individuals to run smoothly, as demonstrated towards the end of the book, when the imprisoned are finally freed, as the judges found flaws in their biased trials and arrests. Persistence and perseverance are the common trends and characteristics that got these women through the tough times, without breaking their own values to submit to