Research Paper: the Reflections: Young Goodman Brown vs, the Salem Witch Trials

Research Paper: The reflections: Young Goodman Brown vs, The Salem Witch Trials

1692 in Salem Massachusetts. You have just been accused by and “afflicted girl” of being a witch. The reason you have been accuse could be many possibilities. Perhaps you’re reclusive, talk to yourself, or exhibit some other form of eccentric behavior. Perhaps you were in a previous dispute involved with the family of the conflicted girl. Perhaps you go to the wrong church or side with the wrong faction within the congregation. Perhaps you support the accused or worse accuse the accusers of lying . Whatever the case may be your fate is in the hand s of the afflicted now.

What emerged in Europe as early as the 14th century , later widespread in New England the witch hysteria made history. The accused were believed to be practicing witch craft, devil magic which could give witches the power to harm others. When misfortunes in loss of wealth due to English rulers William and Mary deprived Salem agriculturally, as well as economically. The unfortunate scandal could be a combination of an ongoing war, economic crisis, congregational strife, adolescent boredom, or hatred.

Reverend Sammuel Parris daughter Elizabeth (betty) had become suspiciously ill.

“11-year-old Abigail Williams (the daughter and niece of Samuel Parris, minister of Salem Village) began having fits, including violent contortions and uncontrollable outbursts of screaming. After a local doctor, William Griggs, diagnosed bewitchment, other young girls in the community began to exhibit similar symptoms, including Ann Putnam Jr., Mercy Lewis, Elizabeth Hubbard, Mary Walcott and Mary Warren. In late February, arrest warrants were issued for the Parris' Caribbean slave, Tituba, along with two other women--the homeless beggar Sarah Good and the poor, elderly Sarah Osborn--whom the girls accused of bewitching them.”{ 6}

The doctor blamed it on supernatural causes surely because he could not come up with another explanation....