Thursday, December 19, 2019

The Salem Witch Trials The Causes Of The Deadly Accusations

Orr Toledano Mr. Blenner AP U.S. History – Period 1 11 April 2015 The Salem Witch Trials: The Causes of the Deadly Accusations In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, he writes, â€Å"We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law!† (Miller 77). This partially fictionalized tale of the Salem Witch Trials points to one of the causes of the trials, vengeance, but the over dramatized tale s early stages were quiet. The Salem Witch Episode had humble beginnings in the town of Salem Village, Massachusetts, but evolved into one of the most widely known witch trials in American History. The gallows in Salem claimed the lives of nineteen men and woman during the spring and summer of 1692 due to the accusations of witchcraft with over a hundred people who were accused. After all the terror and the uproar of the trials occurred, everything came to a screeching halt (Linder 1). Due to the unique circumstances of this particular set of witch trials, from the rampant accusations to the discontinuation of the trials m ass hysteria does not seem to be fault as with other witch trials, but a variety of factors. The Salem witch trials were not just a simple case of mass hysteria, but a combination of factors ranging from poisons to superstitions to scapegoats, resulting in the outbreak of the Salem Witch episode. The story of Salem began in Salem Village, Massachusetts with girls trying to discover theShow 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 MoreS uperstition, Panic, And Rumor1042 Words   |  5 PagesSuperstition, panic and rumor make for a deadly concoction, especially when spurred by religious zeal. While the actual trials may have only lasted for less than a year, Salem was indeed previously entrapped in a dangerous illusion of their own making for decades. Such as the nature of superstition and rumor, they curate an atmosphere of distrust, breeding paranoia because they are puzzles waiting to be fully realized. If they are not, then the paranoia only festers into madness and panic—growingRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of The Salem Witchcraft Trials1552 Words   |  7 Pages  Ã‚   The Massachusetts Salem witch craft trials, this was a complicated time in history.   With the conflict of the hangings, Salem didn’t have the best compromise. At a time in history when the government didn’t give Puritans religious rights, the Salem Massachusetts witch craft trials began. This conflict led to trails where the government convicted men and woman of practicing witch craft, thus being hanged. Though this compromise stopped the witchcraft practicing, the government realized those menRead MoreEssay about McCarthyism as Modern Witch Hunts1614 Words   |  7 PagesMcCarthyism as Modern Witch Hunts McCarthyism: The Real Witch Hunts Some people nowadays may consider the government, or some of its agencies, corrupt. Todays scenario is nothing compared to that of McCarthyism in the 1950s. During McCarthyism, the nation was being torn apart. Their loyalty to one another was crushed and common human decency went down the drain (Miller, Crucible xiv). These Communist hunts were eerily similar to the witch hunts and trials of Salem Massachusetts in theRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1952 Words   |  8 PagesThe Crucible by Arthur Miller was probably one of the most breathtaking plays of his time. Taking place during 1692 it talked about the Salem Witch Trials mostly, what happened, who was accused, how did it start, and how did it end. He did an amazing job describing the scenes, using actual names of the people at the time, and the actual events in chronological order. Throughout the play he also hit on a major idea during the time which was known as McCarthyism, where Arthur miller himself was accu sedRead MoreMccarthyism And Salem Witch Trials Essay1127 Words   |  5 PagesThe Salem Witch Trials In Arthur Miller’s â€Å"The Crucible† it tells the tale of the Salem Witch Trials. At the time of the play, the McCarthy trials, named after Sen. Joseph McCarthy, were underway. Though, instead of hunting for witches, they were hunting for communists. These two trials may have happened at different points in history, but were in many ways the same. Whether it was death to job loss a lot of lives were changed on account of these trials. â€Å"The Crucible† and the McCarthy trials haveRead MoreReligious Beliefs Were Behind The Salem Witch Trials2016 Words   |  9 Pagesreligious beliefs were behind the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 is predominantly incorrect. While the Puritan culture’s strong Christian beliefs did dictate the behaviour of New England society, for the authorities that instigated the Witch Trials, religion was a mere justification for their actions that allowed them to gain support by instilling in the masses the fear of a higher power. Their true motives lay in the political and social issues of the time, with Salem Town’s division due to two disputingRead MoreThe Crucible By William Shakespeare962 Words   |  4 Pagesmelancholy story about witchcraft that occurs in the town of Salem, Massachusetts which takes place in 1692. Salem is a very strict, religious Puritan community which does not tolerate any form of non-religious behavior or action. In this Puritan town, a witch hunt ensues after young female members of the community tell multiple lies to their leaders; under those circumstances, many individuals are condemned and hung for these false accusations. It is until one member of this community is arrested, theRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1399 Words   |  6 Pagesthat time. The story takes place in 1692 Salem, Massachusetts, and hones in on its puritan members and the witch trials that occur. In order for a healthy, well-functioning community it is necessary for it to be a sanctuary where feeli ngs can be shared, no secrets are kept, and no corruption exists. When a community is lacking all positive traits, it is filled with mistrust, conflict, and hostility. This was especially true in the Puritan community of Salem. The Puritan religion demanded strict adherenceRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1177 Words   |  5 PagesShannon Haessly Mrs. Warren English 11 CS 3 October 20, 2014 The Crucible In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, written in 1953 the main character Abigail Williams is to blame for the witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts around 1692. The most despicable character in The Crucible is Abigail Williams because she is the reason for many peoples’ deaths. Abigail’s lies and manipulative actions lead to pain for others characters in the play. Abigail’s lies caused destruction and harm to the Proctor family

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.