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The Prosecution And Conviction Of Bridget Bishop

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Based on the evidence provided in the documents, I have formulated an interpretation on the prosecution and conviction of Bridget Bishop. Bishop was a scapegoat for the problems of the people of Salem and accusations of witchcraft was a vehicle for her prosecution. Bishop unfortunately fitted the stereotype of a witch and the beliefs and bias of people during the 16th century that contributed to her conviction consequence demise. The testimonies claimed, Bishop was the sole reason for their children becoming sick and dying, murder, attacks on people, hallucinations and claims of bewitchment. The problem with these testimonies is that they lacked substantial evidence. There are more plausible solutions such as a lack of medical knowledge, convulsive …show more content…

They depicted instances of Bishop disturbing them at night, black pigs sucking on her breasts and savagely attacking them with her witchcraft. According to the testimony of Richard Coman, he had to sleep with a sword to thwart her consecutive attacks. Though these testimonies were not without their contradictions. Sarah Phillips, a witness on Coman’s response to Bishop attacking him stated, “In the name of God, Goodman Coman, what is the matter with you.” Another example was in the testimony of John Cooke. He explained, Bishop visited him in the morning, struck him on the side of the head and disappeared into a crevice so small that he could fit his hand into. These testimonies were either narratives conjured to convict Bishop or they were hallucinations from the effects of ergotism.
There was a hypothesis explaining an ergot poisoning epidemic in Salem in 1692. This could clarify the testimonies of Bishop attacking them with her witchcraft. Ergot is a fungus and under some conditions infests rye and other cereal grains. When consumed it can cause ergot poisoning which causes symptoms such as crawling sensations in the skin, tinging in the fingers, vertigo, tinnitus aurium, headaches, disturbances in sensation and hallucinations. This could give meaning to the testimonies of Richard Coman and John Cooke and their illusions of the

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