Abstract This paper discusses the onset, reasons for, and ramifications of the Salem witch trials in American history and on American society since that time. This paper notes that the nature of the community and of this specific incident were more complex than is often depicted, though the people were influenced by a number of external forces as well as psychological predilections that caused this tragedy.
From the Paper "The witchcraft hysteria in Salem, Massachusetts in the late seventeenth century was influenced by social, political, economic, and religious forces. The nature of the community and of this specific incident was more complex than is often depicted, though the people were influenced by a number of external forces as well as psychological predilections that caused this tragedy. Over a period of some three months in 1962, nineteen men and women were hanged as witches after trials, and another man 80 years old was crushed to death under heavy stones because he would not submit to a trial. More than 150 people were arrested on suspicion of witchcraft, and many remained imprisoned until the hysteria had run its course and they were released."
Abstract This paper discusses how both "American Beauty" and "The Crucible" are texts written to emphasize flaws within the American society at different periods in history. The paper first looks at how "American Beauty", which was created at the end of the 20th century when there was an increasing dissatisfaction with the American Dream, depicts Alan Ball and Sam Mendes', the composers, contemporary opinions of Western society and is an illustration of how the American Dream is often a facade for dysfunctional relationships. In comparison, the paper then examines how "The Crucible", which is set in 1692, during the unstable times of the Salem Witch trials, was written as an allegory by Arthur Miller, and demonstrates the similarities between the situation in Salem and McCarthyism in the 1950s.
From the Paper "American Beauty was produced at a time when people were beginning to realize that the American Dream is full of unfulfilled desires, repressed dreams and shattered hopes. Alan Ball and Sam Mendes highlight the flaws of this vision through characters in the text. Lester Burnham, the main protagonist of the text, is not content with his suburban life. "Look at me, jerking off in the shower -- this will be the high point of my day. It's all downhill from here." He has a respectable occupation as a magazine executive and a family he once enjoyed the company of however he feels that his he lives a meaningless existence, "in a way, I am dead already." His only daughter Jane has issues with her body image and wishes her father would take interest in her life. "I need a father who's a role model, not some horny geek-boy who's gonna spray his shorts every time I bring a girlfriend home from school." And his wife is stuck in a loveless marriage and doesn't allow her husband to touch her. "Our marriage is just for show. "
Abstract This paper charts the course of women's history from the Puritan times through the American Civil War. It explains the English notion of Goodwife through its transformation into the Republican Mother in the 1780s. Information on the Cult of True Womanhood, passionless, sexual attitudes, separate spheres, the Salem Witch Trials and the Lowell Mill girls.
From the Paper "Early American women's history underwent several evolutions from the 1600 Puritan Goodwives to early reformers in the 1860s. Women's roles in the northern and southern colonies differed prior to and following the American Revolution. However, one encompassing ideal was that of Republican motherhood. Notions of women as sexual beings also changed during this time period and partly formed the basis of 19th century sentimental culture. The story of the early American women is a fascinating account of family, community, and society."
Abstract This paper shows how Miller bases the events of his play on the Salem Witch Trials in the 1650's. The play is also inspired by the pseudo witch hunts that occured in Hollywood in the 1950's in the search of Communists, fanned on by McCarthy's laws. It examines whether Miller managed to depict true events of the Salem Witch Trials in his play or whether these were blown out of proportion.
From the Paper "The accuracy of Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible, with regards to the actual events upon which he based his play have been the subject of much speculation since he wrote the play in 1953. Miller wrote the play because of the witch-hunt of sorts occurring in Hollywood as the scare of Communism caused the anti-Communism trials headed up by Senator Joseph McCarthy earlier that year (Margo Burns). Miller did not base his play on the actual events that happened in 1692, but rather was inspired by the events. He took actual events in history and then wrote a play. Miller was justified in taking artistic liberties with the historical accuracy, however there is several major (and plenty of minor) discrepancies regarding what actually happened, and what Miller came up with. Pointing out those discrepancies is my purpose ? not to criticize Miller's imagination."
Abstract This paper chronicles the witch trials of 1692 and argues that the main reasons why the witch trials occurred were conflicts dealing with politics, religion, family, economics, and fears of the citizens.
From the Paper "After the investigation, Hawthorne and Corwin decided that the three women were all guilty of witchcraft. They were all taken to a Boston jail, where Sarah Osborne would later die from natural causes. Even after the three women were taken to jail, the accusations still continued in the village. "
Abstract The paper first takes a look at the women accused and their backgrounds and pleas. Its inspects each one's life and social backgrounds and why it was thought that they were witches. The paper also includes recent studies as to why these poor women were thought to be witches by the towns people in Salem.
From the Paper "Witchcraft has historically been a part of English folklore and theology. Obsession with paganism began with a vengeance following the Reformation and, unfortunately, continued when many moved their families to the New World to avoid religious persecution. Though men were occasionally accused of practicing witchcraft, it was primarily women who were targeted. Why? The male-dominated society maintained that women, being the weaker sex, were more susceptible to the temptations of Satan. "
The theme of social awareness concerning women's issues in "I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem" by Maryse Conde and "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins-Gilman.
Abstract Two stories that raise social consciousness as well as tell a story are "I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem", by Maryse Conde and "The Yellow Wallpaper," by Charlotte Perkins-Gilman. The writer explains that Conde and Gilman approach their stories with an overall need to raise consciousness to a segment of history that has literally been overlooked or ignored. Conde raises awareness about the Puritan witch-hunts that occurred in Salem and Gilman raises awareness of women who suffered from postpartum depression in the nineteenth century. It shows how both women attempt to bring attention to areas of concern that have either been neglected or simply aside by society. While both of these pieces of literature have the same aim, the characters in them experience very different outcomes. The writer points out that Tituba gains strength as her life progresses while the narrator in "The Yellow Wallpaper," slowly loses her sense of identity. It concludes that these differing views help us understand the angles from which both authors are operating. By using the narrative form to emphasize the plight of women, each author is giving each story a more personal feel, heightening our experience.
From the Paper "Both women are struggling against a society that wishes to shut them up. For example, in I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem, Tituba demonstrates her strength of character in her desire to pass her story along. She comes from a generation of storytellers and carries on this tradition for herself and future generations. Through her story, she can survive and, as a result, her suffering can possibly help someone else. She is helped along her journey with Mama Yaya, Abena, and Yao, spirits who visit her and offer her advice. While she cannot always speak with them, she is aware of their presence. For instance, sometimes a "frail shadow would communicate a "mysterious warmth in an intangible way" (Conde 84). She is strong enough to withstand beatings of the worse kind and part of this is because of the spirits of the women in her past. In "The Yellow Wallpaper," the narrator is struggling not only against her mental illness but also against what her husband and society thinks of her condition. The narrator in this story has no support whatsoever and suffers because she has no to which she can turn. He husband is not convinced that her illness is anything serious and, as a result, treats her like a child most of the time. For example, he tells her that her "imaginative power and habit of story-making . . . is sure to lead to all manner of excited fancies" (Gilman 764). His lack of concern coupled with his orders for his wife to move about as little as possible illustrates the scope of the narrator's battle. "
Abstract This paper gives the historic background of the Salem Witch Trials, highlighting the mass hysteria that lead to such an event. The author argues that we can learn from the lessons of the Salem Witch Trials, in particular with regard to terrorist accusations, or other finger pointing based on fear not fact. The paper concludes with the outcome of the trials and how the accused and/or their families were eventually compensated.
Outline:
Introduction
The Trials
Events in Salem
Causes
From the Paper "The of the trials was based in hysteria. People did not understand what was wrong with the young girls who initially became ill and they became fearful as it spread that if it were not stopped everyone was doomed. This fear spurned a hysteria in which anyone who acted remotely different or non sociable by society standards was accused of being a witch. At that time society had a fear of the devil and the devil's abilities that could overtaken common sense and did."
Abstract This paper compares and discusses the danger to the children in C.S. Lewis? "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland". It details the plots of both books and examines them very closely. It concludes that both stories show the dangers of being a child as well as other dangers in life.
From the Paper "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe? takes place during World War II in London. Four children, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie, go live in the country to avoid bomb-torn London. They live with the rather eccentric Professor Kirke. One rainy day, the children are playing hide and seek inside, and Lucy hides in the wardrobe. Suddenly, she finds herself in the woods, and snow is falling. She has discovered the land of Narnia, and later brings the other children along to see her discovery."
Tags: lion, witch, wardrobe, children, danger, literature
Abstract This paper discusses the cause of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 which were the result of a theocratic system of courts and local government supporting religious intolerance, which in turn effected and altered the way Salem society viewed religious outsiders. The paper discusses how the three women accused of witchcraft were tried and persecuted.
From the Paper "In this study, one can examine the causation of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. In this manner, the Puritan disposition toward opposing religious beliefs caused massive paranoia, which was exploited by the courts and the local religious government. The effect of this policy concerning women who might have practiced pagan systems of belief was their being the scapegoat of societal norms in the Christian faith. In essence, the cause of religious policy in Puritanical Massachusetts in the late 17th century resulted in the condemnation of female witches through persecution of local pagan belief systems in the community. A cause for the Salem Witch Trials stems from the religiosity and governance of the local communities in Massachusetts by the late 17th century."
Abstract This paper looks at some of the legal issues in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 and how the courts let a handful of young girls decide the fates of so many people in the community. The paper talks about the social and economic problems, as well as the legal issues that affected the community at the time.
From the Paper "The Salem Witch Trials were famous even in American history that is often misunderstood and misrepresented through fictional accounts and romantic illustrations. A large amount of primary sources still exist that pertain to these trials and the events leading up to them and from these we can learn more about what the trials were really about and how they were affected by the judicial and legal system of the late 17th century in New England. One of the obvious questions about the trials put forth by many who read of the trials, is how a handful of young girls of various social standings could bring an entire community to its knees in the space of a few months?
Abstract This paper describes the war that existed in the Philippines after the Spain's defeat at the hands of the United States during the Spanish-American War. As a direct result of the war, the Philippines were given to the United States and the Filipino people who originally believed that they were fighting a war for freedom and independence against the Spanish begin to turn against American troops who they view as simply another occupying force. The first part of the paper gives a background to the Filipino insurgency and its main leader, General Emilio Aguinaldo. Aguinaldo's tactics of fighting a guerrilla war against American troops is examined, as well as the effectiveness of these attacks on shocking the American public back home. Feeling betrayed by America who promised the Filipino people freedom after the Spanish were defeated, Aguinaldo embarked on a series of deadly attacks on American soldiers in the Philippines. As a result, American troops responded with equal brutality in their reprisals with very little organized military command holding them back. Diaries are heavily cited in this section of the paper, giving primary sources that tell of how desperate the American soldiers were at the time and how they needed to racially dehumanize the enemy in order to commit such vicious acts of reprisal. The second part of the paper deals with how the American press responded to the war. Numerous newspaper articles and other criticisms of the war are given as examples, some written by the early 20th century's most prominent figures such as Mark Twain. The general point of this section is to show how deeply divided the American public was over the war in the Philippines and how many felt that it would lead to American involvement in other world affairs. A direct parallel is also drawn to the Iraq War in modernity. Finally, the paper ends with a detailed account of how individual soldiers from both sides viewed the conflict. The Filipinos clearly viewed the insurgency as a necessary action in order to preserve their promised independence, while many American soldiers were disgusted and frustrated with why they were in the country to begin with, and often responded violently towards the natives since they began to view them as subhuman. The psychology of warfare is briefly discussed, as soldiers often dehumanize the enemy as a means of justification of their own violent behavior. The end of the insurgency is also discussed, with American troops brutally putting down the rebellion and establishing a tight control over the entire area for decades.
From the Paper "On April 11th, 1898, the President of the United States William McKinley went to Congress and asked the elected body to declare war on Spain for their role in oppression overseas and to accommodate public opinion that was strongly anti-Spanish due to the sinking of the United States battleship Maine only a few months earlier that was blamed on Spanish agents. Congress eventually sanctioned the war, and the Spanish-American war commenced with several battles over Spanish colonies such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. The war itself was over fairly quickly, as hostilities were ended only a few months after war was officially declared. The involvement in the former Spanish colonies clearly demonstrated that America had shifted to a strong imperialistic attitude when it came to the Western Hemisphere and indeed the world in general, and would be forced to endure all of the benefits and tribulations that came from being an imperialistic power."
Tags: aguinaldo, american, emilio, filipino, history, philippines, spanish, war, wars
This paper traces the evolution of America's identity using elements of the musical 1776. It concentrates on the Founding Fathers and their drive for freedom and the large role that an American identity played in independence.
960 words (approx. 3.8 pages), 3 sources, 2002, $ 34.95
Abstract This paper uses extensive information about colonial America and discusses the issue of an American identity. Analysis of the film 1776 and Thomas Paine's Common Sense is used to demonstrate the strength of this identity. The thesis is as follows: As the film 1776 clearly demonstrates, during the American Revolution an American identity was stronger than it had ever been.
From the paper:
"Early American colonies were viewed as very individual and indeed in many instances had much closer ties to England than they did with each other. However, ties with England began to fray due to the poor of the colonies by England. Early examples of this were the Navigation Acts of 1660, which regulated commerce and ensured that ?everything went through England.? From this time, an American identity began to form. As tensions between England and the colonies grew stronger other factors arose to further the development of an American identity. "Choice" in shopping and material possessions and the "standardization of consumer behavior" (similar goods being available throughout the colonies ) enhanced unity throughout America. As the film 1776 clearly demonstrates, during the American Revolution an American identity was stronger than it had ever been."
Tags: 1776, american, common, fathers, founding, independance, revolution, sense
Reviews both American non-fiction and American fiction works of art to support the notion that the American spirit is reflected in both types of literature.
1,150 words (approx. 4.6 pages), 4 sources, 2002, $ 44.95
Abstract One of the most poignant quotes in American literature comes from Donald Briscoe, who stated that "To understand American Literature, it is necessary to examine both its fiction and its non- fiction because the key to the American Spirit can be found in both." This paper assesses Briscoe's quote through addressing two works of American fiction and two works of American non- fiction with the intent of proving how the spirit of the American people is reflected in both types of literature.
Abstract This paper examines the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II by comparing this action with the freedom experienced by German-Americans during the same period. The author questions the inherent racism of Americans that enabled such an occurrence to be legally sanctioned, while German-Americans lived their lives freely, although Hitler and Germany were also enemies of America during World War II. The paper then presents a detailed background of the Japanese immigrant experience in America, contrasting this with the American ideal of freedom and the reality of racism. The experiences of African and Native-Americans are also considered. The paper then describes the actual Japanese internment, which was unprecedented event in American history. The paper further states how the Internment still has an effect on the psyche of the Japanese-American population today. The author concludes that the internment of Japanese-Americans during the Second World War was one of the great tragedies of American history.
Outline:
Introduction
Background: The Japanese Experience in America
Prejudice Unleashed: The Internment Experience
Conclusion
From the Paper " Naturally, the situation was worse the further removed from the Anglo-Saxon ideal a group might chance to be. After the Civil War, the newly reunited nation demanded a huge supply of cheap labor to build its rapidly expanding railroad network. In the West, this labor was provided, to a large extent, by settlers from Japan and China. Labor Contractors, generally Japanese or Chinese themselves actively recruited these workers and brought them to America. They helped to lay the foundations of America's industrial prosperity. White American racial attitudes combined with a nationwide railroad strike in 1877 to create the necessary conditions for a crackdown on Asian immigration. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was soon followed by other, stricter acts, in 1892, 1902, and 1904. And as White America saw little, if any difference, between Japanese and any other Asians, the anti-Chinese immigration laws were followed by a Japanese Exclusion Act in 1907. By 1924, the United States had imposed an almost total ban on all immigration from East Asia, ..."
Tags: Japanese-Americans, internment, World, War, II, immigrant, experiences
