Welcome to Devil Hysteria, a fanlisting dedicated to the American colonial/historical event known as the Salem Witch Trials. It is approved by The Fanlisting Network and is run by Morbid Romantic.
Last updated: January 12, 2012
Member count: 26 (+0), from 9 countries
Newest members: Kelly
about The Salem Witch Trials
Lasting just over a year, from February 1692 to May 1693, the Salem Witch Trials saw over 150 men, women, and children imprisoned, nineteen of which were hanged. Puritan Massachusetts was ripe with fear of the Devil and wanted to stamp out the insidious hand of evil that would soon take over. They believed that there existed an invisible world full of angels and demons, which was all too easy to cross back and forth from. Since the Puritans established a Theocracy, the government was evenly invested in religious matters and religious matters were political.
Though men were also accused of witchcraft, women were by nature considered the more easily swayed to sin. Being the more lustful and prone of the two genders, women would cavort with the Devil and dance naked with him under the moonlight, casting evil about. It’s no small wonder that the majority of the women accused were on the fringes of society before and therefore easy to point a finger to for immoral or strange behavior. Free thinking women, women with pagan leans or devotions, old women who were widowed, were easy targets. The Church, in addition to ridding the world of evil, also gained a lot of wealth through the inheritance of property of those who were put to death.
And it all began with the ravings of a few children.
In Salem, two young girls named Abigail Williams and Betty Parris began to have fits. The two of the created quite a scene throwing things about and screaming nonsense out. Obviously, they were being bewitched. The women they accused were, as I said, fringe women: a notorious loose woman who did not attend church, a beggar, and a slave. It snowballed from there with more girls joining in and more people accused. The evidence used against the accused ranged from spectral sightings to witch cake urine tests. While we shake our heads at such today, we have to remember that these beliefs, customs, and fears were deeply embedded into the Puritan mind. There was little defense that the accused could put up since they had no proof otherwise.
The Salem Witch Trials are a very dark and fascinating time of American History. It reflects a mindset of deep religiousness and fear, and it shows the extend to which people will protect themselves from any sort of instability, which says a lot about what an unstable world the Puritans were living in. People today are still deeply fascinated with the trials and Salem is a popular Halloween spot for witch fans all over the country.
For more information, visit the following great websites:
Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692 (has some GREAT examination records)
Salem Witch Trials Document Archive
joined
Part of Baptism-of-Blood
Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with Kaori Yuki, VIZ, or any subsidiary companies and agencies of Kaori Yuki, VIZ. Please, do not contact me for information about Kaori Yuki, VIZ. This is just a fanpage, and no copyright infringement is intended.
