The Salem Witch Trials can simply be described as the following: a dark period in history where unwarranted persecution and ignorance ran amuck in human society. This phrase summarizes the gist of many historical opinions generated by this horrific event. However, this phrase implies that witch hunts abruptly stopped after this dramatic and sickening period in history, unfortunately this assumption is false. The witch trials of Salem involved the execution of twenty residents, and the accusations of over one hundred and forty individuals. Why these specific people were involved puzzles most historians (besides that of witchcraft), but one theme is consistent with most of the accused. A majority of the women persecuted in these trials
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Women during this time period possessed few freedoms and especially powers in a very patriarchal society, and anything else was seen as a threat to male leaders and male dominance. The feeling of being threatened led to accusations of witchcraft and sorcery of those involved, but it is not the only instance in history where people persecuted others due to fear or being threatened. The Salem Witch Trials are a literal case of a witch hunt, but Webster’s defines a witch hunt as the act of unfairly looking for and punishing people who are accused of having opinions that are believed to be dangerous or evil. The literal evidence of present day witch hunts are minimal, but the large scale persecution of a race, gender, sexuality, religion, or etc through a witch hunt are evident in today’s societal actions and still play a …show more content…
No, we still conduct witch hunts every day in our lives, even though we may do it subconsciously. We condemn other human beings based a small sample because we are influenced by the media and others to think this way. While the world is not hanging witches for magic anymore, our society still glances at certain types of people with a watchful eye or form biased opinions based a sampling of a group. We condemn these certain sects to this fate because we lack to understand them. Our ignorance since the Salem Witch Trials has lessened, however we still do not fully understand every group of individuals. We fear what we can not make sense of or comprehend. Society sentences certain groups to this fate, not as often in the courtroom, but in our souls and beliefs. Anyone that is not understood could be considered a threat to our way of life, and how we act on a daily basis. The public opinion of muslims in the aftermath of 9/11 was given an overwhelmingly negative view because an opinion was formed based on a small group of extremists. We saw them as a threat to our way of life and our freedom, even though we didn’t fully comprehend their religion and their belief system. We sentenced many islamic followers to a social death sentence based on acts that had very little do with them. Until we are fully educated in every aspect of life, which is impossible, today’s society and future
Women during this time period possessed few freedoms and especially powers in a very patriarchal society, and anything else was seen as a threat to male leaders and male dominance. The feeling of being threatened led to accusations of witchcraft and sorcery of those involved, but it is not the only instance in history where people persecuted others due to fear or being threatened. The Salem Witch Trials are a literal case of a witch hunt, but Webster’s defines a witch hunt as the act of unfairly looking for and punishing people who are accused of having opinions that are believed to be dangerous or evil. The literal evidence of present day witch hunts are minimal, but the large scale persecution of a race, gender, sexuality, religion, or etc through a witch hunt are evident in today’s societal actions and still play a …show more content…
No, we still conduct witch hunts every day in our lives, even though we may do it subconsciously. We condemn other human beings based a small sample because we are influenced by the media and others to think this way. While the world is not hanging witches for magic anymore, our society still glances at certain types of people with a watchful eye or form biased opinions based a sampling of a group. We condemn these certain sects to this fate because we lack to understand them. Our ignorance since the Salem Witch Trials has lessened, however we still do not fully understand every group of individuals. We fear what we can not make sense of or comprehend. Society sentences certain groups to this fate, not as often in the courtroom, but in our souls and beliefs. Anyone that is not understood could be considered a threat to our way of life, and how we act on a daily basis. The public opinion of muslims in the aftermath of 9/11 was given an overwhelmingly negative view because an opinion was formed based on a small group of extremists. We saw them as a threat to our way of life and our freedom, even though we didn’t fully comprehend their religion and their belief system. We sentenced many islamic followers to a social death sentence based on acts that had very little do with them. Until we are fully educated in every aspect of life, which is impossible, today’s society and future