Final Reflection

    Reflecting on this course over the past semester, I have learned about the history of witchcraft and the history of the patriarchy. In a modern context, witches are often used as a laughingstock, whether in popular media or real life (think about Halloween costumes). They are also seen as the fringe group of society, something that is unknown and to be feared. But all of these sentiments, both modern and historical, extend beyond just the mystery and allure behind witchcraft. The demonization of women as witches was deliberately used as a control mechanism to get them to behave by society’s standards. 

    Looking at the case of Salem, this is abundantly clear. The Puritans were a group of religious reformers from England. They sought to come to America because they felt the Church of England was becoming too similar to the Roman Catholic Church. They believed they had a direct covenant with God that would allow them to bring social order to the colonies. Some of the enemies of the Puritans called them “hairsplitters who slavishly followed their Bibles as guides to daily life or hypocrites who cheated the very neighbors they judged inadequate Christians”. It comes as no surprise, then, that these same people were the ones responsible for the witch hysteria. What continues to baffle me is why the first two afflicted girls began acting out in the way they did. Surely there has to be some underlying illness or scientific reason for this. But I think the reason why they chose to implicate the other women is because this was the first time in their life that they were given power. When you put this into perspective, it only makes Salem that much more tragic. To think that these girls only had a voice when they were directly ruining the lives of other women is astonishing, but it was a form of self-preservation as well. Surely they had no idea what implications their actions would have on women for centuries to follow.

    Even today, some people view religion as a means to control the masses. Although I do think religion can serve as a great solace for some, giving them meaning and hope in life, it is undeniable that religion was used to control groups of people to bring order to societies. Studying witchcraft is not just about magic, but also about the evolution of patriarchy and the attempt to control women. I’m glad to see that in general, society has become more open to witchcraft. It is important to question major organized religion as it can be used as a tool to divide and create conflict. But even with these movements towards acceptance, there are still attempts to control women in society, whether that is through legislation, unequal treatment in the workforce, or inadequate access to healthcare. This class helped me question why witches are depicted in a bad light in society, and how this translates to other issues women face today. I’m grateful for this perspective because it helps erase my blind spots and become a global citizen.