The Salem Witchcraft Trials

The book has some interesting things to say about the book Malleus Maleficarum, a major anti-witch book. The authors of the book said women were more likely to be witches then men because:

1. Woman are not as smart as men.

2. They are greedier than men.

3. Women were jealous of the greater physical strength of men, so they signed on with the devil to get themselves some powers of their own.

4. Men that did work for the devil were usually tricked by women into doing so.

The book talks about the witch hunts in Europe. It says “hundreds” were hung, which is about the lowest number I've seen anywhere. It also notes that witch hunting could be a very profitable business.

The first person to be executed for being a witch was Margaret Jones in 1648. She was what would best be termed a “wise woman” who was knowledgeable in use of healing herbs.

This book also has something I have not read elsewhere. “Puritan ministers were concerned by the growing lack of interest in the church, the loss of church members, and the disrespectful ways that some of the colonists behaved.” What better way to get people back into the church than have a witch craze?

The book goes into the history of how the Puritan settlements were founded. It also notes that it was not just children that did the accusing, but adults did, also.

The book goes into some detail about the concept of hysteria as an explanation for the actions of the young girl accusers.

The book also examines the idea that some of the trouble was due to bad feelings between Salem Town and Salem Village. Then it discusses the various apologies that were issued later.

An interesting book, rather well done.

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