The Crucible

The Salem Witch Trials were among some of the most horrendous, irrational, and imprudent, events of the 17th century. Not only were numerous people imprisoned, based on false testimonies and lack of judicial intelligence, but hung, or in one case, pressed to death. The claims of witchery caused calamity throughout the village, neighbors turning on one another; friends accusing each other just to salvage their own lives. In The Crucible, Puritan way of life revolves around the church. If you announce your opinion, you must disagree with the church. If you disagree with the church, you disagree with God; and if you dare disagree with God, you my friend, are a true Devil’s advocate. The Salem Witch Trials tended to base their arguments on fallacious statements made by imbecilic young girls, distraught middle-aged women, and a reverend, lustful for power--not exactly the precedent to set. However, claims of witchcraft were not the first seen in Salem Village, especially not for the power-hungry, Reverend Samuel Parris. Witchcraft was often seen and heard in England and widely known due to the Lancashire Witch trials. Furthermore, it shows that knowledge of witchery was imbedded into the minds of these villagers. When the word witchcraft is said people often think of a long nosed, dark haired woman, boiling a pot of her wretched potion. Though the Puritan people viewed witchcraft as acts of the Devil, doing his dirty-work, one could say. Acts of witchery were looked down upon in England and most certainly looked down upon in Salem Village. These Puritans did not celebrate Christmas or Mardi Gras for they were festive acts looked down upon as well. Yet, what exactly is a true act of witchery? The most common happenings such as a cow not being able to produce milk would be considered witchcraft; a housewife could not churn butter, she was a witch. In reality, the true Salem Witch Trials were somewhat different than those portrayed in The Crucible. In the book,

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