Demonic possession

psychosis has been recognized and treated, using numerous tormenting practices and inhumane interventions. However, it was not until the early 19th century did society classify psychosis as a mental health disorder, instead of labeling it as a demonic possession and began using Asylums, “The Whirling Chair/Bed,” and Benjamin Rush’s “Tranquilizing Chair,” to treat psychotic patients. As society progressed into the 20th century, more innovative approaches were utilized to treat psychosis, which…

The legend of Erzsébet Báthory’s alleged slaughter of up to 650 Hungarian peasant girls is not terra incognita for film; from 1971’s Countess Dracula, 1981’s Night of the Werewolf, to 2006’s Stay Alive, her tale has been sensationalized and embellished beyond recognition. Often cited as the inspiration behind the vampire subgenre of horror films, the fable goes that Erzsébet (or Elizabeth, as it’s frequently anglicized.), a wealthy Countess of 17th Century Hungary, was a terribly vain and cruel…

Fig. 46. In the early Renaissance, Dante’s Inferno, became a powerful classic that dramatized Satan’s sphere of influence in hell; drawing by Giovanni Stradano, 1550. It occurred first as part of the epic, The Divine Comedy, and became known as a devilishly chilling account of Satan’s domain. A s mentioned in the last chapter, after the Emperor Constantine’s conversion into Christianity around A.D. 325, he ordered the closing of a significant amount of pagan cults and orgiastic temples…

Imagine walking down the street minding your own business. Looking at the clouds, paying attention to the different shapes of trees and listening to the sounds of birds communicating to each other. You notice something unrelated to nature that seems to follow you wherever you go; the stares from other people and the feeling of judgment. The reaction that your presence has on another person. You automatically create a deeper issue within yourself and of the reactions of others around you.…

Scarlet Letter. The inauspicious characters in Nathaniel Hawthorne 's The Scarlet Letter, portrays the hypocrisy of the aspects of American culture. Through the image of Hester Prynne, her daughter is the product of her sin, but also her most valuable possession. A mother is considered, in Hawthorne’s time, the greatest achievement they are able to do. But Hester is deliberated as a feminine power. The men appear to be weak and thrown off. In opposition, Roger Chillingworth, is a person of…

Temple Do humans idolize tangible objects? It is safe to say that no one in today’s society thinks of themselves as materialistic person. The shocking reality is that everyone in Capitalist societies idolizes material things; unconsciously material possessions have become the god that consumers idolize. Corporations are responsible for this because they offer tangible objects that appear to be essential to obtain happiness and fulfillment. Shopping Centers have become the new temple where people…

The Witch of Edmonton, unlike many works of fiction, actually has a basis of truth; this play is loosely based on the witch trials that were occurring in England during the 1640s. Having insight into the reality behind this play will provide a better understanding of the character development of Elizabeth, and provide a basis of understanding of the culture within the setting. Witch hunting was not simply an idea that materialized into someone’s mind overnight: turmoil had long been brewing in…

The Salem witch trials held in Salem Massachusetts began in late February 1692 lasting through April of 1693. These trials were based upon women who were accused of being witches, given unfair trials and therefore harming society. All told, this event became known as a tragedy as twenty-five people died, nineteen were executed by hanging, one was tortured to death, and at least five died in jail to due harsh conditions. Within this period of time, over one hundred sixty people where falsely…

Supernatural and Religion's Oppression on Medieval Woman The roles of woman throughout history are different than they are today. Today, women can be entrepreneurs, doctors, astronauts, and anything else. They are not tied down to a man's expectations like they were in medieval times. Back then, women were victims to the whims of men and the beliefs of the time, which were largely influenced by religion and belief in the supernatural. There was no clear distinction between what was magic, and…

church’s religious influence on the temperance movement, geared its ideas to influence religious revival in drunkards. In temperance literature, the men who testify in temperance meetings often described their drunk state of being as events of demonic possession. In Six Nights with the Washingtonians the first speaker talks about an encounter between him and his wife. He describes sitting with her at the tea table and remaining quiet as she made her remarks. One would assume that the speaker…