A Trial In History

an article on how the Salem witch trials relates to today's world problems

 Saducismus Triumohatus was a book written by Joseph Glanvill in 1681, highlighting the significance of believing in the Supernatural, the Devil and witches.  The book emphasised that acknowledging the three meant the acknowledgment of God, and therefore the book served a much greater purpose to a society living in a theocracy.

 What that purpose did ignite was fear. 1692 was the year where the Salem witch trials took place in colonised Massachusetts, where around two hundred people were accused and tried for witchcraft and around twenty were executed.  The ‘witch hunt’ started with two girls who fell ill for unknown reasons and started displaying behaviours which fuelled the public's already indoctrinated fear. They were labelled as the ‘afflicted girls’.

  It wasn’t surprising that these girls were tried because of sheer ignorance displayed by the public. The probability of them developing a mental illness or any form of disease wasn’t even considered. That very ignorance wasn’t just limited to different behaviour, but also those who chose not to conform to societal values. Women who chose to dress differently or have physical disabilities were also accused. People also included in these fallacious accusations where those who criticized the ‘witch hunt’. A farmer named John Proctor was also tried for denying witch craft, since according to Joseph Glanvill, rejecting the belief in witchcraft was rejecting the belief in God, making him a blasphemer as well. Anyone who showed hints of rejection towards the belief in witchcraft was labelled as someone rejecting religious beliefs and belief in God Himself, making the person subject to terrorism and attacks.

   

  But was fear the only factor that resulted in these mass executions? Dilcouerie of witchcraft was a treatise written in 1584 by Reginald Scot. Scot claimed that ‘witch hunt’ was irrational and not a part of Christianity. He presented it with psychological and sociological reasons. More than the fear factor, it was a method of displacement. Guilt or any other forms of negative emotions were pushed on to those seen as less threatening. For example, in his work, Scot argued that ‘those who denied charity to poor women sometimes led the deniers to accuse these women of witch craft’. And this was exactly what had happened. Reverend Samuel Parris accused his house servant Tibuta as a witch to explain and to save his daughter, who experienced fits, contorting pain and fever. Social reasons were just as much of a reason leading to these heinous trials. While the heads of the area were in England dealing with the Massachusetts Charter, their absence created a political vacuum. Witchcraft and black magic was seen as the only viable excuse to explain the reasons for the instability. So it all came down to fear which was created by a psychological turmoil in the collective minds of the people and sociological disruption.

  A society works similar to the three psyches of the human mind. According to a Freudian School of Thought, the ID, the super ego and the ego all work together to function and rectify behaviour. Where the ID seeks pleasure and irrationality, the super ego creates a conscience and a self righteous nature. If either becomes dominant in a society it can lead to mass hysteria similar to the behaviour displayed in the Salem witchcraft trials. It leads to irrationality, assuaged violence and diminished reasoning. The ID being those who seek pleasure in dominating others and making them conform to society, and taking any sort of drastic measure to make sure otherwise. The super ego is displayed by those who disregard any other belief and live in a little bubble of righteousness rendering anyone different as a danger to society. Ego is needed to instil rational thinking similar to how laws and Principles for a reality check. If, during the trials society chose to listen to reasoning, cross examination with a mind not clouded by zealots and fear then these mass executions could have been avoided.

  Despite this mass hysteria occurring in the 16^th century we saw waves of it in later times during World War II and the cold war, and even now in a modern society in the form of terrorism and racism. We live in a world where we use the weak as a scapegoat to explain and justify our heinous actions. We seek shelter in fear of the inexplicable and in turn, transform that fear into a driving force to control those who are different from us. Values suited for us cannot always suit others. But we still choose to let the two extreme psyches in society destroy them with the belief that we are purging society from what we think is wrong. By the end of all this we should really ask ourselves; do we really learn from history? Or, are these tragic events just trials for us, just like the trials in Salem.  

Author's Note

i chose not to add too much detail regarding tragic events in today's time. i didn't want to come off as biased or offensive to anyone who has varying opinions. the point of this is explained in the last para

Reviews

[barleygirl]

Overall, this is a well-organized & researched article that reads like a college paper. Your arguments are interesting & lead logically thru the various points you're making here, until finally ending up with what appears to be a comparison to today's times where we are marginalizing people who are weak/different. All this is well done & stated assertively without being the slightest bit controversial by coloring this discussion with political rhetoric.

Now . . . there's something that I didn't quite get from this reading & it's very subtle, so I'll try to explain. I knew what you were talking about, thru-out this piece, but there were times when I felt you could've put out some clear sign-posts for the reader to follow a little better what point(s) you're trying to make, as we go along.

Here's an example -- paragraph 3: "It wasn’t surprising that these girls were tried because of sheer ignorance." -- this sounds like the girls were ignorant, not the people trying them. This would be the signpost statement I'm referring to & it's good to have a signpost like this, but the message is not entirely clear to point the way as to where this discussion is going. I think in 3 or 4 places, such a signpost could be stronger & clearer. This is especially needed becuz your writing is quite erudite & there are many readers who will not be able to grasp the level of your knowledge here.

Another thing I noticed is that you refer to ID, superego & ego as if that's the facts about human nature. It is not. This is only a Freudian viewpoint & there are other viewpoints in psychology. This concept could be made a little more clear for people who have no idea who the hell Freud was or what he taught.

Overall, tho, I find it very informative & a sign of your brilliant thinking mind to put together an essay about how today's separatist mindset is based on similar aspects of history such as the Salem witch trials. There is a sore lack of intelligent information to read & I love it when a writer is precise & truthful & well-researched like this.

[pia]

Thank you so much for your review !!!! I will just use your review points to edit this
And will keep your advice as help for when i write my next article
(((Hugs)))

[Rubein Geterminah]

Expository paragraph narrating the ordeals of the darked ages preferably and what it meant in such time to be accused.

[pia]

Thankss !!!!

[Coyote Poetry]

The sad part is. We don't.
"By the end of all this we should really ask ourselves; do we really learn from history? Or, are these tragic events just trials for us, just like the trials in Salem. "
Terror is a word. The Christians in 50 A.D were consider terrorist. A terrorist is where you are standing. Native Americans in North Dakota are consider terrorist. We need to stop our world and fix her. Wrong and right must find middle ground or war and terror will be relearn lessons. Thank you for your powerful words and thoughts. I did like them.
Coyote

[apennylate]

Pie, you have written in a most intelligent, and descriptive way... About some of my least favorite times in history... Mass hysteria, Hidden egos, and unexplained human depravity... Well, it can certainly be explained... But not by the educated... Ugh... Smartly penned...

[pia]

Ahhh Doolin
Thanks for the wonderful review you odd yet wonderful person!!

[apennylate]

Hah, ahh, Pie... Most welcome, you oddly wonderful human...!

[Einstein Noodle]

not sure this is your most productive forum for such a treatise ... i think in the attempt "not to offend anyone" your points are a little obscured ...for instance .. i am not sure of the connection you are making between mass hysteria and terrorism ... terrorists are cognizant and calculating ... the Pilgrims were not terrorists they were terrified; acting without reason ...both groups murdered and are murdering ...though i do see parallels i am not sure which ones you are making ...but its early and i am not through my first cup of coffee yet ;) you have packed a lot of thought into this ..and obviously did some research ..i am inspired to seek out more history on the Salem Which hunts ... using a Freudian stand point is really interesting ...also must go and brush up on him ..i am not convinced to change my viewpoints on the threats of terrorism to the USA after reading ...but i am inspired to learn more ...especially about Freud and how you relate it to your subject ..then i definitely have to come back to read again ...
E.

[pia]

Oh im no professional writer so i just joined this forum to improve on my skills.....for now....
read moreOh im no professional writer so i just joined this forum to improve on my skills.....for now....
Other than that i feel
Mass hysteria and terrorism are some what linked. Terrorism isnt specific to just our huge organisations such as ISIS or Al qaeda but smaller but equally violent groups in some parts of the world. Google up Mashal khan and how he was lynched by a hysterical crowd in Pakistan.
Thank you for your feedback ill definitely look into what you have said as well and your advice
Feel free to get back to me with any more constructive advice !!!
Have a great day

[Einstein Noodle]

neither am i my new friend ...so all with a grain of salt :) today i will be brushing up on Freud and Salem as well as the old books you mention .. so thank you again for the education and inspiration
E.

[The earth (Titan maphah..]

this one of the best so far.....

[pia]

Hahaha thanks !!

[Abhishek Asthana]

your writes are so logical,, i have noticed quite a few times,, always want to impart knowledge... seriously you are doing a good job... you are really skillful writer... keep going !!

[pia]

Thank you so much Abhishek !!

[Hope]

I look forward to read your works as they are well sought out and stand out among scores of work published.
The pain you have taken to come out with such a great work must be huge. I really appreciate your efforts.
This shouldn't be confined only to Writers Cafe.
Great work:)

[pia]

Thank you sooo much !!!
Im still working on getting better!!!

[Hope]

I believe you will:)

[duff]

Each time I read your work Pia I walk away learning something I didn't know before which is awesome. Never a bad thing. You definitely have a way with dropping knowledge. Nice job!

[pia]

Thank you so much duff
I hope to enlighten you all the time !!! XD

[duff]

You're welcome and me too:)

[Sofia]

I never had so much knowledge..after reading this..i really don't know how to react..im just speechless that you've got so much information...it was a really gud write..i loved this..

[pia]

Thanks sofia !!!

[Sofia]

My pleasure dear one!!