THE CATALYST TO HYSTERIA
The Ideal Environment
The occurrences preceding the trials were imperative foundations for the mob hysteria that would sweep the town of Salem. Salem was in political and religious turmoil. Two families, the Putnams and the Porters were vying to be leaders of the village, few people were accepting leadership roles in the town, and the topic of independence for Salem was undergoing consideration. The people of Salem were members of the Puritan religion. This religion consisted of the belief that the Devil was real and was present in their daily lives. These conditions and beliefs provided a the type environment where fear and hysteria could develop and thrive. This was a defining factor for the Salem Witch Trials.
Reverend Samuel Parris
Samuel Parris moved to the village of Salem due to an invite from Thomas Putnam, one of the most influential men in the town. Parris and his family arrived in 1688 and a year later, it all began. Betty Parris, the young daughter of Samuel, unexpectedly became ill in the winter of 1692. She was not acting like a normal, lady in Salem would; she was cringing in pain, complaining of fever, and suddenly jerking about the room. This behavior could later be explained by scientists and psychologists, but at this time the townsfolk consulted the book "Memorable Providences" for answers. The only plausible answer the community could create was witchcraft. This idea began to grow and spread when those Betty was found with began to display the same symptoms as well. Anne Putnam, Mercy Lewis, and Mary Warren coincidentally began to show the same symptoms as Betty Parris. When the doctor's treatments failed, he resorted to blaming supernatural elements. This fit the common belief that witches targeted children and thus, witchcraft became the feasible reasoning for the children's' illness.
The Blame Game Ensues
Tituba, the house servant of reverend Parris, was known to tell the group of girls (who had succumb to affliction) tales of voodoo, witchcraft, and numerous other supernatural components. This fact alone made her the natural scapegoat. "A neighbor, Mary Sibley, proposed a form of counter magic. She told Tituba to bake a rye cake with the urine of the afflicted victim and feed the cake to a dog. ( Dogs were believed to be used by witches as agents to carry out their devilish commands)" (Linder). Tituba unknowingly dug herself a hole that she could not get out of. The seemingly harmless house servant was one of the first accused victims of the trials.
The Snowballing Effect
Tituba was only the first of many accused to come. The accusations included the outcasts of the community like Sarah Good and Sarah Osburn. The fact the outcasts were not reputable amongst the town's citizens made it more believable for them to be in league with the devil. Not only were the accusers ridding their community of evil, they were also disposing of those who lacked importance and favor in the town. As the trials progressed and more people joined the ban wagon of hysteria, the accusations climbed the social ladder. The mob mentality the trials projected onto the citizens of Salem made any accusation seemingly credible.
The occurrences preceding the trials were imperative foundations for the mob hysteria that would sweep the town of Salem. Salem was in political and religious turmoil. Two families, the Putnams and the Porters were vying to be leaders of the village, few people were accepting leadership roles in the town, and the topic of independence for Salem was undergoing consideration. The people of Salem were members of the Puritan religion. This religion consisted of the belief that the Devil was real and was present in their daily lives. These conditions and beliefs provided a the type environment where fear and hysteria could develop and thrive. This was a defining factor for the Salem Witch Trials.
Reverend Samuel Parris
Samuel Parris moved to the village of Salem due to an invite from Thomas Putnam, one of the most influential men in the town. Parris and his family arrived in 1688 and a year later, it all began. Betty Parris, the young daughter of Samuel, unexpectedly became ill in the winter of 1692. She was not acting like a normal, lady in Salem would; she was cringing in pain, complaining of fever, and suddenly jerking about the room. This behavior could later be explained by scientists and psychologists, but at this time the townsfolk consulted the book "Memorable Providences" for answers. The only plausible answer the community could create was witchcraft. This idea began to grow and spread when those Betty was found with began to display the same symptoms as well. Anne Putnam, Mercy Lewis, and Mary Warren coincidentally began to show the same symptoms as Betty Parris. When the doctor's treatments failed, he resorted to blaming supernatural elements. This fit the common belief that witches targeted children and thus, witchcraft became the feasible reasoning for the children's' illness.
The Blame Game Ensues
Tituba, the house servant of reverend Parris, was known to tell the group of girls (who had succumb to affliction) tales of voodoo, witchcraft, and numerous other supernatural components. This fact alone made her the natural scapegoat. "A neighbor, Mary Sibley, proposed a form of counter magic. She told Tituba to bake a rye cake with the urine of the afflicted victim and feed the cake to a dog. ( Dogs were believed to be used by witches as agents to carry out their devilish commands)" (Linder). Tituba unknowingly dug herself a hole that she could not get out of. The seemingly harmless house servant was one of the first accused victims of the trials.
The Snowballing Effect
Tituba was only the first of many accused to come. The accusations included the outcasts of the community like Sarah Good and Sarah Osburn. The fact the outcasts were not reputable amongst the town's citizens made it more believable for them to be in league with the devil. Not only were the accusers ridding their community of evil, they were also disposing of those who lacked importance and favor in the town. As the trials progressed and more people joined the ban wagon of hysteria, the accusations climbed the social ladder. The mob mentality the trials projected onto the citizens of Salem made any accusation seemingly credible.