Salem Witch Trials

In 1692, Salem, Massachusetts was stricken with witch fever. The witch hunt that followed engrossed the members of the town for the next months. Fear, panic, and excitement spread like wildfire throughout the town. A massive witch hunt ensued that led to the death of about two dozen people in Salem. As the number of accusation grew, the motives of the people seemed to reflect common human and social anxieties that could pop up at any time like the group mentality or protective stupidity.

The troubles began in the winter of 1691-1692 in Salem village and engulfed the villagers for the next ten months. The trouble began when one girl detected “ a specter in the likeness of a coffin”# and another “complaining of pinching, prickling sensations, knifelike pains, and the feeling that she was being choked.”# When doctors could not come up with an explanation for the afflictions, and strange behavior is where the notion of witchcraft was suggested, beginning the mass hysteria that would soon follow.

On February 29, the first suspects were arrested. They were Sarah Good, Sarah Osbourne, and Tituba, Parris’s Indian Slave. The first two women were already unpopular in the village and no one would care much about a slave. Tituba confessed to being a witch and went on describe stories of hurting the children and seeing apparitions of rats, dogs, and plans to attack Salem. These stories fueled the witch hunt and played in on the human psyche, putting fear in them. Years later Tituba reported that her confession came after being beaten by an angry reverend. Names continued to be told and eventually accusation of witchcraft included even the respectable church members.

During the trials of the witches, spectral evidence was allowed in the hearings. “The problem with spectral evidence was that it could not be corroborated by others.”# This kind of evidence was always considered controversial and was treated with caution be it was allowed for the witch trials. People could tell any story and it was accepted. They were the only one to see it and no one could dispute it. The accused and accusers could conveniently leave out any detail the wanted and there was nothing to check it against.

Records from the time of the Salem Witch trials show that location seemed to be a main factor in who was accused to be a witch. The records show that the witch trials was east versus west and Salem Village versus Salem Town. Salem Town in the east along the costal line was full of wealthy merchants and in the west were the farmers who