Theories Behind The Salem Witch Trials

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Witches in Salem; Theories Behind the Accusations
In 1692, a series of strange behaviors and accusations amongst young girls stirred the community of Salem Massachusetts. In that year the cause of their afflictions were deemed due to witchcraft. Trials commenced and several members of the settlement were jailed or executed. As the witch hunt dragged on the townspeople and judges alike started to doubt the credibility of the girls testimony against “the devil's servants”. Historians have also questioned what truly happened in salem; why did the girls cry witches? Further investigation and research have yielded three plausible explanations. The first being the girls were bored of their daily lives and duties, and wanted to bring attention to …show more content…
The article “Salem Witch Trials” (2010) describes it as “an exhausting array of chores with little amusement.” The average family would make their own bread, butter, cider, ale, clothes, candles, “and just about everything else they used.” Rigorous work was also expected to be accompanied by complete devotion to God, perfect church attendance. The roles of Puritan men and women were distinct. Men were the head of the town, and voted within the church for the community. Women were thought to be the weaker of the sexes. In fact, according to “Puritan Life” (2017) “names of women found in census reports of Massachusetts Bay include Patience, Silence, Fear, Prudence, Comfort, Hopestill, and Be Fruitful. This list reflects Puritan views on women quite clearly.” The lack of enjoyment in life and confined freedom based on gender could drive young women to want attention and respect from the male members of their community. Other evidence is also incriminating. The online source Legends of America offers this information: a book called Memorable Providences related to witchcraft and possession detailed an episode of supposed witchcraft a year earlier involving an Irish washerwoman. The symptoms of the her victims was included in the book. This book happened to be in Reverend Samuel Parris’s library. Abigail and Betty’s behavior mirrored the book's description (Weiser, 2017). Could the girls have read that book and pretended to be afflicted? This is just one plausible explanation of the affliction. Another is supported
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