Escaping Salem the Other Witch Hunt of 169 - Book Report/Review Example

 “Escaping Salem the other witch hunt of 169” Witchcraft is a practice considered outdated in many nations. However, under some circumstances, it may have effects on the lives of people. In developed nations, witchcraft is seen as a belief rather than practice, that is, anyone believing on the effect caused by witchcraft is kind of worshipping the practice itself. Because of its religious-like nature, it probes a great trouble handling cases related to it in courts and other judicial houses. The constitution, in most nations, never addresses the issue, in any of its articles or sections. Richard Godbeer’s book, Escaping Salem the other witch-hunt, presents a situation in which an individual is accused of witchcraft in a court. The book handles the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, an occurrence in the US that surprised many individuals, and made Salem village in Connecticut famous. In 1692, Katherine Branch, a seventeen year old Daniel, and Abigail maidservant exhibited puzzling behaviors that appeared to many as possession from another realm. Considering the social aspect of this society, there is misunderstanding and blemish behaviors and thoughts among many people in the village. When Kate displays unordinary behaviors and responses, what comes to everyone’s mind, including, her master and mistress, is witchcraft. The same is true even with a Christian, Bishop Ebenezer. This is quite ironical, as the Bishop’s purpose is to uphold the beliefs in the principles of Christianity that does not allow conviction or beliefs in witchcrafts. “Though some townsfolk remained suspicious, many became convinced-among them Ebenezer Bishop-that Kate was indeed bewitched” (Godbeer 4). In addition, the people’s belief in witchcraft is also depicted through stereotyping and associating certain persons in the book as witchcrafts. Their reactions after hearing and getting the behaviors of the girl prompt them to make a conclusion and come up with the most probable suspects. Their most probable suspects are Mercy Disborough and Elizabeth Clawson. “No one in the town was surprised when Katherine Branch named Elizabeth Clawson as one of her tormentors” (Godbeer 4). The societal social aspect of the people in this village is also portrayed in the book through the ways in which they relate to one another, as well as their perspective to each other’s character and beliefs. This has been brought to light through the judgment of the court witchcraft related cases. The book reveals that during the early summers of 1692, the magistrate became convinced that there was existence of witchcraft and, thus, made a decision to take any witchcraft related cases serious. However, what brought about confusion is how these cases could be handled; they could not be categorized under murder since there was no substantial and convincing evidences to prove this. The magistrates referred to it as invincible crime. After coming to a decision and conviction that people were actually bewitched in areas such as Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Stamford, they began convicting and hanging people who were accused of bewitching others. This indicates the existence of inhuman and unlawful behaviors of the societal members. The society no longer follows or utilizes its legal systems appropriately. There was no provision in the American constitution that handled or took care of individuals convicted of witchcraft. “…magistrates began convicting and hanging witch suspects in Salem based on evidence that some observers found problematic” (Godbeer 6). In addition to the above, there is no understanding or unity among the members of the societies described in this book. This is evident with the onset of the second phase of this story. It mainly handles the appointment of a new judge whose role is to handle occult cases; that of Clawson and Disborough included. The two women were accused of having “in preternatural way afflicted and done harm and estates of sundry of their majesties” (Godbeer 6). This was meant to provide a solution by which the controversial issue could be handled well. However, this did not work as expected as the roles of judges and magistrates surrounding the chosen judge were assumed by the villagers who acted in an unprofessional way against or in support of the judge. Quite a good number supported Disborough while others were against her. The same applied to Clawson. The idea of supporting and opposing the two convicts at the court is pithy evidence enough to conclude that the society consists of people of diverse ideas. The support in the above case comes in because of two probable reasons; friendship or relations. Argumentatively, Disborough’s supporters were mainly her friends and relatives. The same case is true with Clawson. From this perspective, it is convincingly true that the society is affected with the infection of social and development enemies such as nepotism and corruption. From the above illustrations, it is true that Salem Village and other mentioned areas are facing many controversies concerning occult issue. This has given rise to other issues that negatively affect the same society. As discussed in the last part of the essay, misunderstanding among villagers led to other favoritism behaviors. Work Cited Godbeer, Richard. Escaping Salem: The Other Witch Hunt of 1692. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005. Print. Read More