Early American Godbeer Summary

This paperback by Richard Godbeer, a professor of history at Virginia Commonwealth University, is being reviewed for analyzation of the book’s context, style, and purpose. The author of this piece studied at Oxford University, where he received his bachelor’s degree, preceding him going to Brandeis University to receive his doctorate. He has written other pieces of importance like The Devil 's Dominion: Magic and Religion in Early New England and Sexual Revolution in Early America which showcase his knowledge on many diverse subjects. He is very knowledgeable in history particularly concerning witchcraft, sex, gender, and religious culture. For pieces containing these studies he has received many fellowships from a multitude of institutions. …show more content…
This description helps the reader picture themselves in this period with this going on around them. Nowadays most people do not believe in witches and wouldn’t ever think about having someone hanged because of a witch suspicion. However, back in a time where people had unexplainable problems and girls “suffered from fits” that were completely incomprehensible as well, they only knew to blame the Devil for their problems and look to the bible for answers (Godbeer 17). Whenever one corralled with a neighbor and then an unforeseen event was carried out some were quick to reason it to be the neighbor rather than coincidence (Godbeer 155). These issues are not ones we deal with any longer since we have more explanations to previously unexplainable topics and questions. The public is also not one to believe in witchcraft because we live in a world based on science now instead of the bible and its teachings. Therefore, setting up the story to come by first putting it into perspective for the readers was a very smart move on Godbeer’s part to help the audience see reasoning to his claim and the topic of why witch hunts