Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Implicit Partnership: Witchcraft and the Atlantic World

Elizabeth Reis (CP 217) discusses the idea that witchcraft in America was often deemed as such even when it went against the standards laid out in the Malleus Maleficarum. While the American judicial system also used confessions to convict witches, they weren't looking for the same thing European Inquisitors were looking for. In Europe, if confessions didn't edify the notions that the Inquisitors already had about witchcraft, they generally weren't accepted.

In contrast, Reis writes, "Simply to sin implied the forging of an implicit covenant with Satan, a spiritual renunciation of God. For Puritans, to become an actual witch demanded the acceptance of a more literal and physical invitation from the devil. But during the Salem witchcraft trials and other episodes, these distinctions were blurred" (CP 218).

What do you think of this idea of implicit partnership? Does it remind you of any other readings we've done this semester? 

2 comments:

  1. I think this partnership can be a source of a lot of anxiety. It would seem that the slightest mistake would result in someone being accused of devil-worship - even though everyone is human, and mistakes are just inevitable. The Crucible comes to mind (though we did not read it in class, per se), and I remember all the stress and anxiety that went into the emotion of the play. I'm sure it was a really intense time. I couldn't imagine experiencing it first hand.

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  2. Thanks for the post Chaniqua! As we discussed the events in late 17th century Salem, I am reminded of a lecture that I had in a past Colonial American history class at Drury. Similarly to our discussion in European Witch-Hunts, the role that sin had in the daily lives of many individuals in the northeast colonies was significant. Believing that there was only an elect few that received salvation, the Puritans strove to live as godly as possible to prove to all that they were a part of the Election. Undoubtedly this constant concern contributed to the tensions that would surface during the witch trials.

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