Were Salem Witch Trials a Peculiar Aberrant Moment in an Age of Superstition or Were They Something Else?
In the 17th century in a small town of Salem many people were getting accused and executed for practicing witchcraft. The Puritans came from England because they wanted to be separated from the Church of England; they had deep beliefs that the devil used the people serving him to do badly to others. They believed that witches had a pact with the devil in exchange for powers of evil. At this time some citizens believed that Salem should be divided into two parts: Salem Town and Salem Village, because the people had different views on things. The people of Salem Village were mostly Puritan, under the leadership of Rev. Samuel Parris they formed a separatist group and held prayer meetings. But on the opposite side, a new group formed that disliked Rev. Samuel Parris because he had the right to tittle and deed the church and the surrounding land. Living at Rev. Samuel Parriss house was Parriss daughter Betty and her cousin Abigail Williams and also the slave Tituba. She was a slave that worked at the house and practice voodoo; she was beaten by Rev.Parris and the girls. The Salem Witch Trials took place because Tituba and the opposition group found this to be a way to get revenge on Parriss family.
Tituba had a pact with the devil and practiced voodoo. Because she was beaten from Rev.Parris and the girls and she was tired of being treated like this. She had an idea of persuading the girls to practice witchcraft. She formed a group of girls and began telling them stories about witchcraft, animals and demons. The girls were very interested in this, and of course they would, Tituba persuaded their mind. She would tell them that they should join her in this because it was a fun entertainment; because the Puritans believed in an enclosed life, that they should stay in the house and should not be communication the outside world. They had nothing else to help their boredom so they joined her in her pact with the devil. But the girls didnt know that this was Titubas way of getting revenge.
The people of Salem had different views on things, so Salem was divided into two parts, Salem Town and Salem Village. Salem Village was mostly Puritans and believed that Salem Towns thriving economy didnt follow what Puritanism mandated. They formed a separatist group which was under the leadership from Rev. Samuel Parris who formed a congregation that began worshipping in the Meetinghouse. Misters at this time had everything they needed, a house to live in, a good salary and firewood. Also Misters had the right to title and deed the church and the surrounding land. Many residents got angry because they wanted to remain part of Salem Town. Salem Town formed an opposition group against Rev. Samuel Parris; they refused to worship at the Meetinghouse and to pay taxes. This was bad for Rev.Parris because his salary came from these taxes. Just like Tituba, the opposition group wanted to find a way to get their revenge