The Magic Flute

The Salem Witch Trials were a series of witchcraft trials which arose after a group of young girls in Salem, Massachusetts, claimed to have been bewitched by some of the older women in the colony. Twenty individuals were put to death by the Governor of Massachusetts because of this. Our story begins after these events with a woman known as Abigail Williams. Williams was one of the main accusers involved in these trials and is responsible for the deaths and troubles of many. The year is 1694,…

The Crucible & Xenophobia It is often hard to find American literature that is still as relevant today as it was when it was written. This is especially the case when it comes to pre-constitutional america. As the country is constantly changing and evolving, sometimes the constitution itself seems to reflect the needs of a different time. With regards to this, A play such as the crucible stands as a reminder that there will always be “witch hunts” as long as there are people in positions of…

New Jersey’s oldest, most enduring, and important pieces of folklore is the tale of the infamous Jersey Devil. For about three hundred years now, Jerseyans have told the tales of this mythical beast that stalks the Pine Barrens and terrorizes local residents. For example the devil would chase people out of their homes and killed others. People moved many times. Legend has it that in 1735, a Pines resident known as Mother Leeds found herself pregnant for the 13th time, but this time to a demon…

The Salem Witch Trials lasted for about seven months of 1692. During this time, people believed that there were “witches” in their town. They believed that the witches performed secret rituals and brought great harm to others. In early 1692, more than eighty trials for witchcraft had occurred in New England. Puritans of Salem believed that the devil plotted against them. A Puritan is a person who is strict in moral or religious matters, often excessively so. The citizens thought this because…

witches or witchcraft exists and they are not all black pointy hats and broom sticks. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in Europe, witch hunts originated. The witch hunts had goals to persecute the witches who practiced dark or black magic. The magic they practiced was known to worship the Devil and harm Christian belief. Witches were stereotypically known to be women. The common belief was that women…

I Kill Giants, a graphic novel by Joe Kelly and JM Ken Niimura is about elementary-schooler Barbara Thornson, a cheeky, imaginative, and awkward girl, and how she deals with difficulties at home and school by escaping to a fantasy world where she claims to “kill giants” with her prized hammer Coveleski contained in her purse. Throughout the book, Barbara dons four sets of animal ears: bear, fox, bat and rabbit ears. While wearing the ears she shows certain qualities that the animal has and…

Witchcraft in New England In the 17th century in North America, everyone strongly believed that Satan was on earth and active. Witchcraft is the practice of witches; magic, sorcery or the use or supernatural powers to influence or predict events. The Massachusetts Bay Colony followed British law, and the practice of witchcraft was a felony. All convictions meant that they were partnered with the Devil and the result was execution. “There were at least 100 of witchcraft before 1692, but they…

placed upon them, my service offers an opportunity for these negative superstitions to be deflected. My service is targeted towards superstitious-believers, rather fitting for the Elizabethans, especially within the Shakespearean plays. Although black magic and curses were commonly known, there were also many countering forces. Occurrences of these positive superstitions occurred in many plays, such as “The tempest”. Due to the time setting of this play, a local service can be easily used for…

20 people lost their lives during the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. Most people hanged, only one was pressed by stone and seven died while in jail. The events of the witch trails became so well known that Arthur Miller decided to write a play based off of it called The Crucible. Some of the people who were falsely accused of witchcraft and hanged during the Salem Witch Trials were John Proctor and Giles Corey. John Proctor was a farmer who was always well respected by everyone in the town. He…

The Salem Witch Trials were a bad time in the history of the United States; around 200 people were accused of witchcraft. More than 20 were executed. Men and women were hung, crushed, or left to rot in prison. Some were not executed, but their lives were forever changed. In the Massachusetts Bay Colony where there was strong belief in the devil, there was a smallpox epidemic and the threat of warring tribes. The stress of the people created a fertile ground for fear and suspicion. After a short…