Role of Fear in Salem Witch Trials Essay

during the Salem Witch Trials was inhumane and can be associated with the American societal views at that time that witchcraft was wrong.Due to the conservative christian views in the late 1600’s, witchcraft was considered out of line for the undeniable reason that witchery was associated with the devil. Many historians affiliate Europe’s witch persecutions, their ethics and principles in the 16th and early 17th century with the events that occurred and caused the Salem Witch Trials. There were many events and a number of opposing religions that could be said to have been the catalyst for the trials. The conflict and fear between the people in the Salem community at that time gave many motivation…

To date, the Salem Witch hysteria and the resulting trials have baffled historians and psychologists, causing them to be unable to provide a definite answer as to why Salem was thrust into hysteria and panic. But there are still some ideas as that give insight to what might have caused the start of the trials. The most logical of the ideas is the Salem villagers ' religion and belief in the occult/supernatural which fueled the fire to start the hysteria. The beliefs and religion of Puritans…

Cause of the Hunt Heard Across Salem “The Puritans were one of many groups throughout human history who wanted to be special, to be set apart from others” (Carr, 2015). Little did the Puritans know, they would soon set themselves apart from others in an unimaginable way. Dr. Karen Carr earned her PhD in 1992 after graduating from the University of Michigan. Shortly after graduating, Carr took on the roll as a history professor at Portland State University. She has studied and taught to…

The Salem Witch Trials and The McCarthy Era Throughout the history of America, we see history repeat itself throughout centuries with similar events that change the view of people throughout time. The McCarthy era was a time in America in where accusations of communism were claimed towards the people. This event led to the creation of the play, “The Crucible” written by Arthur Miller, basing his ideas off of the Salem Witch Trials. There is a relationship between these events, that supports…

girls in Salem Village, Massachusetts, claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused several local women of witchcraft. The society became unsure of what was going on, and as a whole became under a lot of stress. Factors that started and fueled the trials were politics, religion, family feuds, economics, and the imaginations and fears of the people. There are lots of explanations given, but I believe what ultimately led to the Salem witch trials was the economic problems that Salem had been…

In The Crucible there is a group of girls that go into to woods with intentions of speaking to the devil. The major instigator to the Salem witch trials was Abigail Williams, she accused many of witchcraft and caused many to be hung. Abigail was a maid to John and Elizabeth Proctor. In the Crucible, Abigail and John had an affair, because of this Elizabeth fired Abigail. Abigail is in love with John Proctor and wants him to leave his wife to be with her, so Abigail goes in the woods to summon…

Salem lacking a governor gave them no authority figure, leading to chaos. Since Massachusetts was still under the rule of Great Britain, they had to send over any government officials over to America from Britain. While the colony was waiting for their new governor to arrive, the witch trials took place and “By the time the new governor, William Phips, arrived in Massachusetts, the jails were already filed with alleged witches” (Life in Salem 1692, par. 2). This proves that the fact that Salem…

period of witch hunting can be described by R.H Robbins as, “the shocking nightmare, the foulest crime and deepest shame of western civilization,” (“The Witch Hunts”). In Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries, around 60,000 ordinary people were imprisoned and sentenced to death over accusations of witchcraft. Witch-hunting had the crime of degrading women and attempting to put people under authoritative control. The misogynistic society and strict religious beliefs of Salem, Massachusetts…

In 1692, Puritans in colonial Massachusetts faced an interesting event called the Salem Witch Trials. The first sign of witchcraft was discovered when two girls, Elizabeth and Williams were having “fits.” The local doctor blamed their unusual movements on the supernatural. Satan worried the Puritan community because they believed that they always had to behave to go to heaven. Whether puritans were in or out of their home, they believed the devil was always watching them which is why they were…

Fear and corruption run rampant during one of America’s darkest periods. 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts was a time of fear, allegation, and distress. The town of Salem will forever be linked to the witch trials and the executions of innocent victims. One person tortured to death, five others die in prison, and nineteen men and women hanged (6). The atmosphere surrounding Salem was ripe for the occasion. Some of the predominant causes of the Trials were a combination of the strict Puritan codes…