As a general comment on the injustices in Salem, the colony in Massachusetts was set up by Puritans who sought freedom to practice their religion without interference. However, when they set up their towns and villages, they did so with a sense of intolerance for all human feeling and anything that they did not understand. For example, when cattle die, or an infant dies in his crib, or a child is stricken with a strange illness, the people blame it on the forces of the devil among them or witchcraft.
The injustice exists because some individuals are blamed for unexplainable events as an easy way to dismiss how they happened, because a Puritan in good standing with God's will did not bring his wrath into the village or town. Rather than acknowledge that they didn't understand all the events that occurred, they found a way to explain the actions as the work of the devil, acting through someone in the town.
People accused of witchcraft were executed unless they confessed to being a witch, then they were spared. 19 people were executed in Salem, 400 were accused. Therefore, more confessed to witchcraft to save their lives and lived a life thereafter marked as a sign of evil on earth. Rejected by society, often losing her family's support and love.
No comments:
Post a Comment