Salem Witch Trials The Church example essay topic

Revenge or Witches? Roxana Dau Honors English PD. 2 October 25, 1999 Were witches ever really a threat to humans or were they just a figment of our imagination? During the year of 1692 in a small village named Salem, approximately fifty people were hung and one pressed to death due to witchery. These people were all tried and convicted in a court of law, yet what court will allow these people to be convicted of something that is based only on spectral evidence? The Puritans were deeply religious and believed that the devil was among them, that the devil lived in the forest surrounding them.

This belief clouded their judgment. Which allowed the church to be the most important institution. An institution that created and enforced the law, laws that were based on the bible. Although they were in good sense these laws had many loop holes. A heavy forest surrounded Salem. This caused the people of Salem to believe that the devil surrounded them.

They believed that the devil was a living entity. When Abigail and her friends are caught dancing in the forest they are immediately accused of witchery Proctor at first believes that Abigail is lying to him about what was being done in the forest. Abigail denies any accusation of witchery, but Proctor believes that they were practicing witchery. "Now then, in the midst of such disruption, my own household is discovered to be the very center of some obscene practice.

Abominations are done in the forest-" Due to their belief that the devil is a living entity, Proctor accuses his niece of witchery with out any knowledge of what truly happened. This accusation then causes the witch trials. During the Salem witch trials the church began to suspect all members of the society. They began to investigate the attendance of mass. Due to this investigation Mr. Hale visited Mr. Proctor and asked him of his absences.

"Good, then. In the book record that Parris keeps, I note that you are rarely in church on Sabbath day". In today's society your attendance in church has no bias in weather you are guilty of innocent of a crime. It is your choice in weather you attend church or not. The puritan's government contained many loopholes.

These loopholes allowed Mr. Putnam to get away with murder. Mr. Putnam was a bitter old man, his wife Ann Putnam was also bitter due to her lose of seven children, Before the with trials Mr. Putnam was constantly seen in court. He always found something that bothered him about everyone. Many times his visits to the court were due to the conflict of land.

Mr. Putnam sued many of his neighbors due to confusion of the ownership of a certain piece of land. Ironically, Corre y accused his neighbor of witchery, the same neighbor that he took to court less that a year before. Unfortunately the witch trial could have been avoided. If the people of Salem would have not have been so quick to point a finger then many lives could have been spared. Their government contained many faults. Faults that were used for selfish reasons.

If their government would have been a democracy then they could have avoided the turmoil of the witch trials.