The Crucible vs. the Salem Witch Trials: What Really Went on?
The Salem Witch Trials Vs. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible: Deborah Livingston
The Salem Witch Trials in 1692 had a significant impression on American History and the Massachusetts Colony of Salem. 20 people were killed in the midst of this tragedy; 19 were hanged and one was crushed to death. Researchers still have heated discussions about the cause and effect of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. This article analyzes the historical accuracy of “The Crucible” and the actual events that occurred within the time of the trials. There were many causes that spurred this string of events; “fears, desires and greed,” combined with the religious stranglehold and lack of medical knowledge are mainly responsible for the misguided massacre (Livingston). The economic conditions and disagreements between the members of the church stressed the community to hysterics, and this was also largely responsible for this augmented mishap. The entire reason this travesty of justice was possible in the beginning was the establishment of anti-witchcraft laws in England in 1641. They made it not only illegal to practice witchcraft, but it was also punishable by death to be involved. The first events that unfolded to start the dominoes falling was the curious illness of Betty Parris. Her constant spasms and erratic twitches led the local physician, Dr. Griggs to believe that she was practicing witchcraft. Soon after this, there were other strange symptoms seen within many other young women, including Elizabeth Hubbard, who was twelve. She was forced to divulge an explanation to why she acted so bizarrely; she blamed Tituba, an Indian slave from Barbados, and two other girls, Sarah Osborne, Sarah Good. The situation that was coming about brought an idea to Governor Phips to establish an entire court for specifically witchcraft trials. The first victim of the trials was Bridget Bishop, who was an old lady, she was accused, and because the accused are not allowed to have
The Salem Witch Trials in 1692 had a significant impression on American History and the Massachusetts Colony of Salem. 20 people were killed in the midst of this tragedy; 19 were hanged and one was crushed to death. Researchers still have heated discussions about the cause and effect of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. This article analyzes the historical accuracy of “The Crucible” and the actual events that occurred within the time of the trials. There were many causes that spurred this string of events; “fears, desires and greed,” combined with the religious stranglehold and lack of medical knowledge are mainly responsible for the misguided massacre (Livingston). The economic conditions and disagreements between the members of the church stressed the community to hysterics, and this was also largely responsible for this augmented mishap. The entire reason this travesty of justice was possible in the beginning was the establishment of anti-witchcraft laws in England in 1641. They made it not only illegal to practice witchcraft, but it was also punishable by death to be involved. The first events that unfolded to start the dominoes falling was the curious illness of Betty Parris. Her constant spasms and erratic twitches led the local physician, Dr. Griggs to believe that she was practicing witchcraft. Soon after this, there were other strange symptoms seen within many other young women, including Elizabeth Hubbard, who was twelve. She was forced to divulge an explanation to why she acted so bizarrely; she blamed Tituba, an Indian slave from Barbados, and two other girls, Sarah Osborne, Sarah Good. The situation that was coming about brought an idea to Governor Phips to establish an entire court for specifically witchcraft trials. The first victim of the trials was Bridget Bishop, who was an old lady, she was accused, and because the accused are not allowed to have