Children during the early modern period
of the witch-trials seemed to have a major role, both passively and
actively. In the beginning of Robert Walinski-Kiehl's article, he
talks about how children were sometimes primarily seen as victims of
witchcraft, rather than actual participants. Children were subjected
to violent mutilation and violence as it was believed to be a major
identifier for what makes a witch a witch (CP 195). However,
Walinski-Kiehl quickly moves on to point out that there were, in
fact, children that were tried and even executed because they
themselves were accused of being witches.
While we do not seem to have a
definitive number as to how many child witches were actually tried
and executed, but the author does point out a series of accounts that
have been documented of children confessing and accusing others of
witchcraft. What I find most interesting about these accounts is
trying to figure out just what exactly is going on in the children's
psyche while the trials are in full swing. Walinski-Kiehl explains
that while children obviously carry an air of innocence about them,
and that these shocking accusations of the witch-trials might be far
beyond their ability to understand, the author explains, "However,
it is unlikely that children were completely unfamiliar with demonic
witchcraft notions, particularly in areas that experienced mass
panics. They would have overheard adult conversations discussing the
trials, and they had the opportunity to obtain information by
attending the public executions where the witches' demonic
confessions were read out aloud" (CP 202). The children may very
well know some of the mechanics of the witch-trials, but they may not
know exactly what the trials mean on a deeper level of understanding.
But what do you think of the child
confessions? Where do you suppose they stem from, based on our
readings for today, and/or any experience you might have with
children?
Walinski-Kiehl, Robert S. "The
devil's children: child witch-trials in early modern Germany."
The History of European Witch-Hunts Course Packet,
2015. Print.
Interesting blog-post Sarah! I find it intriguing how children were involved in such a serious matter. As an Secondary Education as well as History major, I have become well acquainted with notions regarding the impressionability of children. Much like the article discussed, children are aware of goings on around them even if they don't fully understand the implications. Thus this makes me believe that these children heard accounts of adults confessing to being witches, effectively putting the concept of confession in their minds. As we have discussed earlier in our course, confessions were read aloud before a convicted witch was executed. Maybe this was these decrees were the means that children had access to adult witch confessions... Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteThe idea of children being coerced into confessing reminds me of something that happened a long time ago when I was in first grade. One of my classmates had taken a package of fruit snacks from the teacher's desk and she was sure that he had done it. She could not get him to confess to it until she said, "The truth shall set you free." She continued to repeat that as he lied over and over again. Eventually he told the truth thinking that he wouldn't be punished for his theft, which, by the way, took place in a church. He got in trouble and was outraged that he had misunderstood her promise of "freedom". She meant freedom from sin, but not from punishment. I wonder if techniques similar to this were used on children of the day and they thought things would be simpler because they were children.
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