The Salem Witch

The Salem witch trials were a succession of trials and hearings of individuals charged with witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts. Over 200 people were charged with being involved with witchcraft—and 20 were put to death.

On one such occasion, three women were presented before the local magistrates and questioned for a number of days charged with afflicting three young girls, from the Puritan family with witchcraft which made them display similar odd activities like yelling, throwing things, uttering strange noises and twisting themselves into bizarre poses. One of the charged, amongst the three women was Tituba. She was well-known to tell the girls stories of superstition, and witchcraft from her indigenous tradition. She admitted, "The evil spirit came up to her and propositioned her to serve him." Tituba illustrated detailed descriptions of black dogs and many others who sought after her to sign their book. She confessed to have signed the book in the presence of other witches who wanted to destroy the Puritans. All the three women were put in jail.

 

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Puritans were focused on faith and following God's plan. They believed in one of the theories of there being a sacred monarchy unseen to the eye, colonized by demons and angels who intermingle with humans both to cause anguish and destruction or guard and offer good counsel. Ultimately, the colony disclosed that the trials were an oversight and remunerated the families of those damned. Since then, the tale of the trial has grown to be the same with suspicion and prejudice, and it persists to fascinate the popular imagination an added 300 years afterward. It planted seeds of superstition, terror, and rumor over religious faith.