Witchcraft is a well-known mischievous act happening in the world’s darks. It is illegal and non-permissible in many aspects of different religions. Our past, as well as present, is full of such stories. Among others, Salem Witch Trials is a known story of history.
Origins and Concept of the Salem Trial
Believing in black magic, supernatural and specifically in following the devil’s path, i.e., the devil’s practice of certain humans’ to gain power in the urge to harm another human to show their loyalty to the devil, was first unfolded in Europe in the 14th century. It further spread in Colonial New England.
It occupies a series of prosecutions and hearings against people accused of witchcraft. The said series was preceded between 1692 and 1693 in colonial Massachusetts. It was a group of two hundred people who were accused, of which thirty were found guilty. Nineteen of them were executed by hanging, including women.
Numerous towns, including Salem and beyond, were searched making arrests. It was the most injurious encounter of the witch hunt in colonial North America during the 16th century.
It all began when a group of girls from Salem, Massachusetts, were claimed to be possessed by the devil. Then, in January 1692, Elizabeth (Betty) Parris, 9-year-old, and 11-year-old Abigail Williams, Salem village, began having fits. It was a session of uncontrollable outbursts of screaming, including violent contortions. As per the villagers, it was the after-match of several women involved in witchcraft. So it was then; that a special court was summoned when a hot wave of hysteria spread through Massachusetts.
The first witch declared was Bridget Bishop. She was hanged in June 1692.
The hysteria, when abated. The public became louder and spoke against the trial. Therefore, the General court called the charges against the accused witches void and granted indemnification to their families.
The trial of North Colonial America is one of the most ill-famous cases of mass hysteria. It was later used as a political expression and literature too. It was subjected to an evocative exemplary tale about religious extremism, isolationism, wrong ways of gaining power, false accusations, and negligence in the entire process.
The historians claim that the after-effects of the episode have caused influenced successive history of the United States.
A fantastic author born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland, Claire Hastie uses her knack for writing about stories of witchcraft, devils, fairy tales, and characters from British folklore. She has been penning down some fantastic stories from a very young age.
Her incredible imagination and creativity skills are shown in her book, ‘The Guardians of the Athame.’ She shows her passion for Wiccan beliefs through her exciting magical tale. She wrote about fairies in Irish folklore, witches of Pendle Hill in Lancashire, the witchcraft tale of Salem, and many others.
She paid homage to her Celtic roots through her book The Guardian of Athame. She is releasing her second version, ‘The Missing Grimoire, ‘ soon to soothe your eyes. If you haven’t got your hands on the copy of her first release. Click here The Guardian (clairehastieauthor.co.uk) to grab a copy of her fantastic fantasy book.