Giles Corey and the Salem Witch Trials

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses Giles Corey in the the Salem witch trials, which reveals that there was no legitimate case against him; rather, it appears that Corey was presumed to be guilty by mere association. The author points out that Corey did not help his case by refusing to plead one way or another, but records indicate that he was in what we commonly refer to today as a loose-loose situation. The paper concludes that Giles Corey is a significant figure in American history because his death illustrates the magnitude of mob mentality; his death, along with the deaths of the other so-called witches, should serve as a constant reminder of how not to behave when things begin to get complicated.

From the Paper:

"Corey's testimony against his wife certainly did damage in many respects. According to Marion Starkey, Corey was a "blundering husband" who tried his best to tell the court the truth about Martha. This truth, Starkey notes, was "unimpressive, unconvincing." His testimony revealed that Corey "found it hard to pray when Martha was about and was in turned bothered by her own fluency in prayer." Not only did this testimony bring more doubt against his wife, many in the courtroom thought that "his very stupidity" might be a "mask for something else." Hoffer looks into the possibility that Corey might have been legitimately confused at his wife's trial. In all fairness, Hoffer notes that Corey was as "bewildered as anyone at the antics of the girls." It is understandable that his confusion regarding his wife was not only used against her but it was also used against him as well. "

More papers on Giles Corey and the Salem Witch Trials:

• Research Paper # 96382 : "The Salem Witch Trials"
• Essay # 87906 : "The Salem Witch Trials "
• Essay # 86916 : "The Salem Witch Trials"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: