Many try to explain or rationalize the bizarre happenings of the witch hunts and the causes that contributed to them. To understand the trials and how they came to be, we must first examine the ideals and views of the people surrounding the events. Although religious beliefs were the most influential factor, socioeconomic tensions, and ergot poisoning are also strongly supported theories The Ergot Poisoning Theory The Salem witch trials have fascinated historians for centuries, largely because of their bizarre nature and the great uncertainty that surrounds them. One of the most intensely debated topics is the question of why the girls began to accuse seemingly random townspeople of witchcraft. However, there is little evidence to support any theory, and consequently historians
The Salem Witch Trials started by little girls acting strangely and then accusing others to have bewitched them. The defendants during the Salem Witch Trials took desperate matters to avoid being executed. Sarah Good resorted to saying the other accused “witch”, Sarah Osborne, had “tormented the children.” At one point Osborne even pretended to also have been infected by the witches’ magic. Tituba admitted to being a witch and told stories of flying around on broomsticks and being visited by creatures. Confessing to witchcraft was the only way a member of the accused wouldn’t be executed.
In order for suggestion to cause hysteria, it needs to be viewed as valid. Often this is a fear or worry held in common by members of the society. In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, this fear is witchcraft. The Salem witch trials occurred because the whole community feared witchcraft. Had the adults of Salem not believed the girls who were accusing social outcasts of witchcraft, no mass hysteria would have occurred.
In Macbeth there is a big conflict of power between the witches and Macbeth, however, the reader knows the witches are the ones in power. We can tell this because Macbeth questions the witches and they do not answer and because when he commands them they disappear. Whereas in Wuthering Heights there is a conflict of
In the play "Macbeth" by Shakespeare, the author explores the many forms of evil and in particular whether evil is from within or is brought to the surface due to the environment in which people live in. For example, Macbeth says "O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife." and this could mean that he was born with evil thoughts and an evil nature, or that someone (the "weird sisters" or witches) has planted them there. The seeds of evil, once planted, appear to be nurtured by Lady Macbeth and by Macbeth himself. It could be that he has damaged himself so that he is unable to feel empathy for others - or that the evil is innate.
Public vs. Private Perception Inside a society people are constantly being labeled. Members of a society will often judge a stranger based on a first time encounter, and unfortunately, their opinion will stick for life. People realize this judgmental nature inherent with others, and they try to conceal their true character with an alter ego that is more acceptable to society. This duality in human character is expressed in Hawthorne’s masterpiece “The Scarlet Letter.” “It had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and enclosing her in a sphere by herself,”(51) is an example of people repelled away from Hester, because they judge her as a lesser person.
The portrayal of his thoughts and opinions are reflected through The Crucible and its characters (Understanding the Crucible). Events occurring during The Salem Witch Trials can be compared to McCarthyism in similar occurrences such as the effects of paranoia on civilizations, the mistreatment of others due to false accusations, the struggle between power and reputation, and the constant repetition of history. To begin with, the effect of paranoia on civilizations is overall the main cause for tragedies in history. Furthermore, the mass hysteria portrayed throughout the story began much earlier than what the reader is given.
A rule is something that determines the way in which we behave. The difference between laws & morality is the reasons behind following those rules, whether we submit ourselves to them voluntarily – as would be the case with moral rules, or because it is enforced by laws which would be reasoning behind following legal rules. There can be seen a close relationship between law & morality, for example murder. Murder is considered universally immoral and therefore is enforced by law & also carries the greatest sentencing. The question can be asked, is the sentencing so high because of how immoral it is or simply as punishment for taking someone’s life so your life should be punished for the duration of your existence.
Centering now upon John Proctor, and his wife, Elizabeth, the story takes a turn. Elizabeth is accused by Abigail Williams of witchcraft. When Elizabeth is standing trial, Abigail now accuses John of the same crime. At the story’s end, John is hanged, and it becomes apparent to the town of Salem that there is no such thing as witchcraft. The ending to the play symbolizes struggle.
Court system then and now Back in 1692 in a town of Salem there was a mass case of hysteria and a disgrace to the American court system. Due to this flaw in our court system it has positively affected the court system. If it wasn’t for the flaws they found out during the Salem witch trials the court system would still be shame on America; however it did have a positive effect on the court system by creating the need for unbiased judges, fair juries, and hard evidence for conviction. During the Salem witch trials there was a problem with judges which caused major problems because many people were hung as a result of a biased judge. They would only have one point of view of people in Salem and many were falsely accused of being witches.