Abstract
This paper argues that the witches in "Macbeth" are diabolical beings who possess humans. The paper suggests that the characters in the play unconsciously echo the witches in the beginning, though not one of the characters had actually met the witches, suggesting something a little deeper than the average witchery that people think happened in "Macbeth".

From the Paper
"William C. Carroll's description of the witches in his introduction to Macbeth is that of "malevolent external figures" (Carroll 2) who "symbolize the dark inner mental state of Macbeth himself" (2). The key point in Carroll's argument to be made is that while the witches can influence Macbeth's actions, they cannot compel him to commit evil deeds. The witches represent the dark powers that have the ability to influence men's decisions, but, more importantly, they are an outward representation of Macbeth's inner evil. It is this evilness and greed within his own human nature that persuades him, rather than it being the fate of the witches. The witches represent what Macbeth has hidden inside himself. He has already contemplated killing Duncan, but the witches have given Macbeth a motive for committing the murder."

Tags:disturbances, banquo, predictions, natural, forces, images, influence, commit, evil, deeds, devil, plan

Abstract
This paper reviews Francis Hill's book "Hunting For Witches," a true account of the Salem witch trials. The paper examines Hill's view of the causes behind the Salem witch trials and the hysteria that followed. The paper also describes the second part of the book, which serves as a guide to visitors to Salem. The review concludes by giving a personal opinion of the book, citing both strengths and weaknesses.

From the Paper
"Hill drives home the point that the trials and accusations were fueled by a fear that the devil was behind the witch activity and he could wreak havoc on the village if everything he touched was not destroyed. The members of the village believed that certain symptoms pointed to witchcraft and they soon began seeing those symptoms in everything that happened because of their fear that it would taint them if it was not stopped. Some of this was referred to as spectral evidence which is a form of evidence based upon dreams and visions. This type of evidence was allowed during the Salem Witch Trials."

Tags:witchcraft, travel guide, US history

Abstract
This paper examines how Lady Macbeth and the witches play a vital role in pushing Macbeth to choose the evil path to the crown in William Shakespeare's "Macbeth". It looks at how Lady Macbeth plays the masculine role during the opening scenes of the play and forces her ambitious ways upon Macbeth and how, throughout the play, her famous speeches and soliloquies show the extent of her influence on Macbeth. It also explores how the witches use Macbeth's character flaw to their advantage and entice Macbeth to act on his ambition of obtaining the crown.

From the Paper
"Lady Macbeth is part of the instigation behind the unleashing of Macbeth's evil side. Lady Macbeth's words to her husband as well as her many influential soliloquies show her longing for power and therefore she urges Macbeth to murder Duncan. Macbeth and his wife have a very strong relationship in which they greatly influence one another's actions. In the first two acts it becomes apparent that Lady Macbeth's words mean a great deal to her husband, which gives the impression that she is the dominant figure in the relationship. In Act 1, Scene 5 we find out that as soon as she receives her husband's letter she instantly begins to plot and scheme. We immediately become aware of the fact that she wants Macbeth to become king, so she can become the Queen of Scotland."

Tags:evil, duncan, murder

Abstract
This paper relates that Marvin Harris, in his essay on 'Pig Lovers and Pig Haters' from "Cows, Pigs, Wars and Witches", believes that it is because of different environmental demands that Judaism and Islam came to hate pigs as being unclean, while the Maring are fanatic pig lovers. In the essay "Mother Cow", Harris contends that cows became holy in India because of their value as breeders of oxen. The paper concludes that, though environment cannot be ignored, Harris' cause-and-effect relationships of culture and environment in producing food taboos at times seem too facile.

From the Paper
"The question remains: why single out the pig? Rejecting after entertaining largely cultural explanations, such as the idea that perhaps pigs were the favored diet of rival clans of the ancient Near Eastern tribes, Harris argues that eschewing pork is really a sound ecological strategy that was the result to the need to support a herding economy. Israelites could not raise pigs in their arid habitat; their resources were better suited to herding cattle and the other cloven-hoof animals allowed for consumption under Mosaic Law, while the pig was ill-adapted to the heat".

Tags:prohibition, irrational practice, pig consumption, judaism hindus

Abstract
This paper searches to illuminate the reasons for the rise and fall of Macbeth, owing to the role played by the witches. It discusses how their effect on him and the significance of their presence contribute to understanding Macbeth's actions throughout the play.

From the Paper
"Banquo is not at all disturbed or even intrigued by the witches' predictions and seems to forget about their emergence as quickly as they had vanished. Macbeth is mesmerized and as he said in the last sentence, he wishes they had stayed, obviously so they he could pry more predictions from them because they were in his favor. From this point on in the play, Shakespeare begins to reveal Macbeth's insanity, showing that he is caught up in his own world which he is trying to create based on the witches' forecasts for his future."

Tags:Banquo, insanity

Abstract
This paper looks at the Salem witch trials from the point of view of the defense. It examines the evidence and how it could be argued against by a defense lawyer. Additionally, the paper summarizes the social conditions prevalent at the time.

From the Paper
"An unusual set of circumstances conspired to initiate the spate o faccusations of witchcraft which led to the hanging of persons in Salem and the crushing to death of another. (Linder) Dozens more went to jail for confessing to being witches and spent months there without trial only to be released when the furor went away as quickly and mysteriously as it came. During the time of the witch trials there was an ongoing frontier war with the Indians whom the people believed used witchcraft. Economic conditions in..."

Tags:Salem, witches, trials, defense lawyer

Abstract
This essay explores the disproportionate number of witchcraft accusations leveled against women during the European witch hunts. It posits that this gender imbalance is directly linked to the patriarchal nature of society by examining the definitional power of men and the subsequent perception of women. Using Jungian/ Lacanian understandings of the 'shadow' and Other, this piece has as its underlying contention that it is women's lack of power to define themselves within a patriarchal society that has led men to project their fear of self onto a woman, indeed all women, and term her 'witch'.

From the Paper
"The identity of "woman" as it was perceived in early modern times can be further seen as a man-made myth upon closer examination of the nature of patriarchy. Man attempted to label, categorize, map and understand women, and do so with the use of male terms, but because patriarchy is a relational construct such attempts only reinforce for men that "woman" is not "man," she is "Other." And in this position as Other, women will always retain some element of mystery, of hidden depths and secret knowledge, never greater than man, but always promising more than he is capable of comprehending. It is the impossibility of exact male knowledge that creates for man the opportunity to map his own meaning upon this depth of Otherness."

Tags:jung, lacan, patriarchy

Abstract
This paper discuss the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 as written by Arthur Miller in his play the Crucible and compares it to the work of the Un-American Activities Committee in America during the post war years.

Abstract
This paper discusses the Salem witch trials among the Puritans of New England during the late 1690s, including how the worldview and ideology of the Puritans, led by Cotton Mather, were responsible for the furor in society that resulted in the hanging of innocent people accused of being witches. The paper includes an outline.

From the Paper
"The rigid Puritan mindset that permitted uncharitable and unkind treatment of others suspected as evil because they held different beliefs was most responsible for the tragedy known as the Salem witch trials."

Tags:New Jerusalem, spirituality, The Crucible, Nathanial Hawthorne, witches, Salem, Mather, punishment, persecution, intolerance, fear, paranoia

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. "

Tags:court, death, history, nurse, people, rebecca, salem, town, trials, unfair, witch