Comparison of the Salem Witch Projects Essay - 1284 Words

The reason why these two documents were chosen was because of my beliefs in witches, and my interest in the contradiction between good versus evil. Also, another reason why this subject was chosen was because I have study the Salem witch trials back in high school, so I already knew something about the subject matter. The theme that connects both â€Å"Insufficiency of Evidence Against Witches† and â€Å"Wonder of the Invisible World† is that both Increase and Cotton Mather were both puritan ministers that participated in the Salem witch trials. In addition, both father and son had different views on how the trials should be handled. The author of â€Å"Insufficiency of Evidence Against Witches† was Increase Mather. The purpose of writing this†¦show more content†¦And so it is here; for if a witch cannot be drowned, thus must proceed either from some natural cause, which it doth not, for it is against nature for human bodies, when hands and feet are tied , not to sink under the water† (pg. 2). The third major idea the author states in the document is if the jurors have sufficient evidence to convict an individual for witchery then he or she must be prosecuted; if not, the individual has all the right to continue living there lives as it was until further evidence is recognized. â€Å"These things being premised, I answer the question affirmatively: There are proofs for the conviction of witches which jurors may with a safe conscience proceed upon so as to bring them in guilty. The scripture which saith, ‘Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live,’ clearly implies that some in the world may be known and proved to be witches. For until they be so, they may and must be suffered to live† (pg.4). The author of â€Å"Wonders of the Invisible World† was Cotton Mather. The purpose of the author in writing this document was to convince villagers that there were evil spirits from the devil causing a person to be p ossessed which was confused with witchery. The intended group of audience at the time was the puritan society that was overwhelmed by the spread of the devil and witchcraft. The first major point the author discusses in the document is that the devil was upset that people living on this land that onceShow MoreRelatedThe Devil Visited Salem Witch Trials1597 Words   |  7 Pagesvisited Salem in 1692, or did he? Nicholas Hytner’s The Crucible depicts the 1692 witchcraft epidemic in Salem, Massachusetts. The film was adapted from a play written by Arthur Miller in 1953. The film’s producers, Robert A. Miller and David V. Picker, released the film along with Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation in 1996. The film focuses on one female resident of Salem and her revenge against her ex-lover. The revengeful girl and her group of friends begin to accuse other members of Salem whenRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1064 Words   |  5 Pagesarticle McCarthyism. It project s the same sickening goose chase that ruins the lives of harmless people. Abigail is the ultimate icon of the mockery that is the Salem witch trials. Her â€Å"encounters† with demons in the courtroom are borderline comedic. The puritans justify all decisions with the argument that all drastic measures are necessary to remove the demons within the townspeople, for the greater good. The concept of religion is obviously critical to the people of Salem, so it comes as no surpriseRead MoreSalem vs McCarthyism Essay1648 Words   |  7 Pageshappened with the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. One might also say that this could never happen in modern times. That is where they would be wrong. This scenario just presented not only perfectly describes the Salem Witch Trials, but it also perfectly describes the Red Scare of the 1950s and the practice of McCarthyism that went on during it. I’d like to take a look at the parallels between the Salem Witch Trials and McCarthyism of the 1950s. 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Irving nudges readers toward the mythical readingRead MoreEssay on Magic and Superstition in th e Middle Ages3515 Words   |  15 PagesAges, pagans continued to exist controversially with the Christian Church. However, pagans distinguished the works of Jesus Christ himself as magic all the same, for instance Jesus turning water to wine, performing miracles, and walking on water. Comparisons were being drawn between paganism and Christianity; nonetheless, Christians held to the faith that their rituals and practices were the only acceptations. An example of this impartiality was that, the pagan ritual carried out to bring good weatherRead More Too Many Religions, Not Enough Truth Essay2557 Words   |  11 Pagescould. The Thirty Years War between Catholics and Protestants in the 1600s brought death and misery across Europe. Hangings and chopping off limbs and heads became commonly watched events. Early settlers in the new world followed suit. 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In many cases, acts of cannibalism wereRead More A fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal: Does physical appearance of a defendant influence juridical judgement?2885 Words   |  12 Pagessystem, maybe it is this that could explain that people were more likely to place a lesser sentence on those in the manslaughter case. But this might not be the only reason for this difference, as the unattractive manslaughter-unattractive theft comparison did not yield significant results. As Baldwin and McConville (1979) pointed out that juries easily fall victim to stereotypes, manipulation and outside influences and fails in almost all of its goals, the results found here, and previous research