Negative Effects Of The Salem Witch Trials

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February 1692, Salem, Massachusetts. A town run by religion. As if tensions and jealousy weren’t high enough the witch trials begin accusing people left and right of being possessed by the devil. For example old man Jacobs was accused of being possessed by the devil and entering a little girl’s room in the middle of night. Even with all the reasonable evidence on his side he was found guilty and sentenced to hang. Mr. Jacobs needed a can to walk anywhere and can’t open up a window and climb inside. Jacobs even told the judge only to be told that his soul could’ve gone through the window with no problem. Sadly, just with that Mr. Jacobs was found guilty and would eventually hang for his “crime”. Abigail WIlliams, a scarred teenage girl with a loyal following she created, not with respect, but with fear and threats on their lives. Add a master manipulator to a very religious village and that person has all of its citizens in the palms of their hand. Surely the witch trials had a negative impact on the town of Salem. …show more content…

However the God fearing people went to their church less once they started to realize what was truly being done right in front of their eyes. The reverend Mr. Parris was already having a rocky relationship with some of the townspeople before the trials even took place. John Proctor despised Parris so much he even refused to get his third child baptised by him. “I like it not that Mr. Parris should lay his hand upon my baby. I see no light of God in that man. I’ll not conceal it.” (Miller, Act 2) A key example on John Proctor’s contempt for reverend Parris. Parris even whips his slave Tituba just for a confession after Abby accused Tituba of conspiring with the

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