Cultural Fascination of Salem Witch Trials

After viewing these cultural depictions of the Salem Witch Trials, one could argue that the historical depictions of the trials are mostly inaccurate, set to be entirely more dramatic and exaggerated for better audience appreciation. However, the storyline stays the same throughout most of these narratives and adaptations, with the girls playing a central role in the way we remember and memorize these trials which are forever ingrained in American memory.  These cultural depictions discussed in this project often engage with the stereotypes of women––that they are superficial, dramatic, overemotional, untrustworthy, deceitful, spiteful, and insecure humans who hold grudges.  In the era of the trials, an “angry woman was the same as a witch”, but not much has changed over many centuries (Colburn 22). Women are often depicted as ruthless, hot-headed beings who can’t be taken seriously. These aspects can be seen throughout the works discussed in the projects. In addition, wom...

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...

Gretchen Adams wrote about propaganda use of mentioning the Salem witch trials in battles between the North and South through pamphlets. According to Adams in the 1850s, the Salem trials were used as a political narrative in attacking Northern policies and activities: “As pro-slavery Southern Congressmen took to the floor of the House and Senate to denounce Northern abolition activity that they used as evidence. It was Salem’s witch-hunt. How could Northerners, they asked, defend a society in which witches were once burned, literally, by the cord?”(Adams 25).  This use of propaganda worked in favor of the South, as many communities were not well educated on the real events of the trials, just through rumor and public opinion. She continues by explaining the idea of ‘burning’ and the detrimental effect it had on opinions of people in the North: “Witch burnings in Salem, in fact, was an invention of this period and this controversy. The more horrific idea of ‘burning’ was unique...

Taking place in 1692, in the Puritan society of Salem, MA, the ‘Witch-hunt’ became the most notable historical event in Salem history. This religiously devout community was susceptible to hysteria as fear was common throughout the community. With talks of abandoning their old faith and rumors of treason, the community was nervous about the possibility of losing their dreams of an ideal town based on religion. In fact, there was a common belief throughout society that “the Devil was constantly trying to find ways to infiltrate and destroy Christians and their communities”(history of Massachusetts). The vulnerability of this community allows us to understand the social circumstances of the era. Briefly, young girls began to act strangely, and after a doctors examination, the elders concluded that the girls had been touched by the Devil and were found to be bewitched. They began to name other people, placing the blame on their maids and others close to them. As this hysteria started,...

Three-hundred and twenty-six years later, the Salem witch trials are still permanently ingrained in American memory. The details of the hysteric moments are sensualized in pop culture repeatedly. However, these details are not entirely accurate, often misconstrued and exaggerated for dramatic nature in film, books, and tv shows. How do these inaccurate detail and educational technology affect the way we remember and memorialize the Salem witch trials today? This online exhibit begins with the retelling of the ‘true’ details of the Salem witch trials from firsthand accounts and other primary sources. Then, the user will delve into the cultural depictions of what happened in Salem through film, media, and books. At the end of the blogs, I invite users to think about the details learned during their early education and the way pop culture has either transformed or maintained the historical depiction they learned. The relationship between the depiction of Salem women and stereotypes of ...