The Crucible by Jonah Roberge

Puritanism

99058819_1 — 2024-11-15 16:59:22 UTC

Puritanism was a religous movement in the 16th & 17th centuries that wanted to purify the Church of England by getting rid of any Catholic Church. Purtians belived in salvation, covenant with god, and predestination. The Puritants faced religous persecution under the reign of James the first. As a result of this they settled in the new world, America. The migration started with the New England colonies, starting off with the Plymoth colony, and the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Witch hunt

99058819_1 — 2024-11-15 17:01:21 UTC

Puritants would do witch hunting, their moral beliefs supported this. They believed in the constant struggle of good and evil, and that the devil would choose people to carry out his bidding. The Puritans moved to the American colonies, and in these colonies witchcraft was a felony. This only justified the witch hunting, because then those captured would then be put on trial. There was a lot of paranoia and superstition among the Puritans, so accusing people of being witches was easy.

Mass hysteria

99058819_1 — 2024-11-15 17:04:41 UTC

The Puritans have been often associated with mass hysteria, expecially when it the the Salem witch trials were held. The Puritants belived in the constant presence of evil, including the devil and his workers, witches. The Puritans saw accusations as a way to get rid of sin. There were tensions in Salem, ranging from social, economic, and politcal, which only worsened fear. In the trials, they often ended used "spectral evidence", and that condemned fear.

Manipulation of fear

99058819_1 — 2024-11-15 17:07:47 UTC

Fear was manipulated by both accusers and local leaders to strengthen power and control over the community. Religous figures like Reverend Samuel Parris used the fear of witches to gain influence, meanwhile clergy and magistrates used the fear as a way to maintain social order. The people who would be the accussing people of being witches were often young immature girls who would amplify the panic by accusing people they didn't like or were threatened by. Judges would accept dubious evidence such as "spectral evidence". The manipulation of fear allowed personal grudges to be settled by a rigid social order which in the end led deaths of innocent people.

Individual conscience vs community needs

99058819_1 — 2024-11-15 17:10:33 UTC

During the Salem witch trials, Puritans were torn between their individual conscience and the perceived needs of the community. Puritan society valued conformity and viewed deviation from religious norms as a threat to the overall communal wellfare. A lot of those who were accused of witchcraft were pressured into false confessions to save themselves, highlighting the conflict with self-preservation and personal integrity. Those who questioned the trials, or spoke out against the injustice faced severe social and religious pressure to conform. The fear of witchcraft caused people to tear each other away for the better of the community.