Salem Witchcraft Trials

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the Salem witchcraft trials that occurred in the 17th century. The paper reviews two literary works on this topic, "The Devil in the Shape of a Woman", by Carol Karlsen, and "In the Devil's Snare", by Mary Beth Norton. The paper compares these two books and explains the different approaches taken to the witchcraft trials.

From the Paper:

"Salem witchcraft is probably the most fascinating and most talked about subject in the history of the world. How people were accused of being witches and wizards, the trials that ensued, the baseless charges that were made and the hysteria that had gripped Salem in the 17th century have fascinated historians around the globe and most prominently in the United States and Europe and endless researches have been conducted so far. These researches focus on the one troubling question: what gave rise to the witchcraft hysteria and paranoia? Some people it was the simply the invasion of new changes in social values and beliefs that resulted in these tragic events where many were hanged and numerous others were sent to prison. Some believe that the fact that most women in those days were confined to their houses where depressive conditions had had a negative impact on their psyches and teenage girls began accusing older women of witchcraft. However it appears that this debate will never end, at least not in the near future since new books are still coming out with unique perspectives on the issue."

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