Cultural Fascination of Salem Witch Trials

This ‘Comedy Central’ video featured on Youtube depicts some historical aspects of Giles Corey and the Salem witch trials. As the clip is only about seven minutes long, the ‘ storyteller”, Drunk History, summarizes the details of the way that these events in Salem came to take place through a dramatic reenactment of what most of us believe to have happened. For instance, in one scene the girls are outside running around a tree in the woods. Is this entirely accurate based on the historical information previously discussed? The answer is, no, but this clip fits with pop culture stereotypes of the witch hunts. The clip depicts Martha and Giles Corey as onlookers, sitting back and eating popcorn as the trials happen and hysteria sets in, but soon they find themselves entrapped in the accusations as well. The clip follows Giles Corey telling “a story of Salem Witch Trials that often goes unheard”(Comedy Central). As Giles Corey is pressed by the rocks, this dramatic reenactment uses the...

This online children’s book entitled Salem Witch Trials is targeted at an audience of about five to eight years of age. Through the use of cartoons and simple to understand details, the e-book retells the story in a kid-friendly way. Although some of the details are simplified for editing purposes, I argue that this depiction could perhaps be the most historically accurate amongst the works that I have discussed this far. As it is an e-book, provided on a free and accessible-to-all website, the introduction of this short narrative into mainstream education could be entirely beneficial. Through this work, a better sense of a “painted picture” of life in Salem is drawn concerning these girls and their turn against Tituba through accusations. For you, what are the ways this book could excel in teaching younger generations about Salem? What are some ways that it could be elevated for an older target audience? Share your thoughts below! Here is the link to the e-book, which is fairly ...

Hocus Pocus is a popular Halloween movie created by Walt Disney Pictures. Since its premiere in 1993, it has continued in popularity and is included in Halloween marathons on television networks. The film begins with a prelude taking place in 1692/3, the year of the Salem witch trials. It is also set in Salem Massachusetts. In the prelude, three sisters known as the Sanderson sisters, are punished and executed for practicing witchcraft. The film then shifts to 1993, where Max Dennison, his girlfriend Allison, and his younger sister Dani, have to deal with accidentally taking part in a spell, or rather a curse, that brings the three sisters back to life. The Sanderson sisters chase after children on this fine Halloween night, determined to gather enough children to perform a spell to stay alive. Max, Allison, and Dani spend an eventful night running around their town trying to save the other children and themselves from the evil witches. The societal issue with this film is the refere...

The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is how most people are introduced to the Salem witch trials. Most high school students across the country read this play in literature courses. The play, first appearing on Broadway in 1953, has had six runs in New York. It has also been adapted into three films, including the 1996 version with the well-known Daniel-Day Lewis(Lawson). The play does include some inaccuracies concerning the trials itself. Miller writes in the introduction to his play that “I believe that the reader will discover here the essential nature of one of the strangest and most awful chapters in human history. The fate of each character is exactly that of his historical model, and there is no one in the drama who did not play a similar - and in some cases exactly the same - role in history”(Miller). This admittance to historical inaccuracies prior to the play beginning allows the reader to understand that this cannot be taken as a tell-all for all “true” incidents happening ...

The Witch (2015) tells a story full of witchcraft and accusations as a family comes to grips with the sudden disappearance of the youngest son, Samuel. Thomasin, the lead character in this film, is continuously accused of witchcraft as the family’s misfortunes continue. Where tragedy strikes, Thomasin is close or lingering near the incident. Her own family accuses her of bringing dark magic to the family (Eggers). To ensure that the ending of the film isn’t spoiled, I will end by saying that Thomasin undergoes a symbolic change, leading to fulfillment of her character archetype. As one continues to analyze the film in relation to the true story of the Salem witch trials, we see the sensualization of the hysteria and how easy it is for family members to turn against each other as they live in fear. It is interesting to note that the film follows only one girl accused and her family’s actions against her whereas the Salem witch hunt involved many more women and families. The familie...

Laurie Brooks play entitled “Afflicted: Daughters of Salem,” published in 2014, delves into a story of the afflicted girls and their sisterhood prior to their accusations. The five have a tight bond, but as the play shows, it slowly deteriorates with the women at the end admitting their guilt in the process. This dramatic reenactment allows the audience to interact with the social ideals of women and accusation in contemporary society. Showing the victimization of the girls involved, the audience is able to understand the precarity of the girls' lives. This forty-five-minute clip is from a high school play and the actresses are around the same age as the ones involved in the actual witch trials in Salem. In the end, there is an interactive moment with the audience as the actresses ask the audience to respond with “yes” or “no” to the guilt of each girl and whether or not they should be punished  (Brooks). This action allows the audience to understand their own morals and values...