Contreras 1
Luis Contreras
Yarisbel Rodriguez
HIST 3401
19 September 2017 Revelations of gender and religious norms through the Salem witch trials There are certain events that when they occur they can reflect and show the kind of society we live in and sheds light on some of the norms we accept in our society. The events that occurred during the Salem witch trials revealed many norms about religion and gender. It demonstrated how religion and superstition was held in higher regards and standards than science and logic. It also showed how much influence people in the church had over the people. And how women were treated as nothing but objects. Women were used scape goats for the witch craft and Satan worshiping allegations.
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It can be said that because of Father Parris’s position he was able to influence the people of Salem. In the seventeenth century it was normal for these kind of people to held in this kid of high regard because religion was a big part of life and these people were seen as interpreters of god’s will. An example of this can be seen in the “Satan’s war” article, “Put on the whole Armour of god, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, Parris instructed. Christ fruniseth the believer with skill, strength, courage, weapons and all military accomplishments for victory. Thus did Parris convert the opposition to his ministry into a grand cosmic struggle the forces of good and evil between god and Satan.” We can see how Parris’s sermons begin to attract more people because he uses the explanation that the village is in a war with Satan. The village of Salem believed that they were on a divine mandate to spread Christianity and the word of god to the new world, to fail or succumb to evil would mean that they failed god himself and they wouldn’t be able to achieve salvation and to them god was the whole reason for their existence in the new world and their work. Parris used recent events and fears of the people as proof of Satan’s work against the village of Salem and with his position people began to follow him without question …show more content…
It’s no secret that a gender norm for women was that they had to be completely subservient to men, or more accurately their husbands. For example the “Diversity in colonial times” article states, “Colonial cultural norms reflected European patriarchal values, which became embedded in English law. For example, a woman’s marriage automatically transferred the legal ownership of the bride’s personal property—money, land, household goods, and clothing—to her husband. If he died, the property went to the children, not her, with male heirs receiving larger inheritances than their sisters. Even children could become the wards of the father’s male relatives and not of his widow. In the rare instance of a divorce, the father indisputably retained custody of the children.” This demonstrates how the gender norms in English law prevented women from becoming truly independent once they got married they became their husband’s property, and everything became the man’s property. The general inequality between men and women was the norm and this could stem from religion because of the story of Adam and eve, and in that story eve is weak and disobeys gods will and as a result women are seen as weak and inferior to men. Since religion plays a big role in the seventeenth century life style they adopted some of those beliefs and it became a gender norm that women are perceived as
In Act One of The Crucible, Reverend Parris was the most responsible for the uncontrollable situation about witchcraft in Salem. In The Crucible, Parris says “I cannot blink what I saw, Abigail, for my enemies will not blink it”(1093). Parris was making it clear to his niece that he wasn’t going to keep quiet on the opposed witchcraft he witnessed them do in the forest. When Abigail suggested to Parris that he should go to the people of the village and deny witchcraft himself, he refused. Parris didn’t want to tell people that he saw his daughter and niece dancing ungodly in the forest because that would also ruin his reputation.
Essentially, marriage in the 1700’s was seen merely as a means of birthing heirs and finding a way to financially support yourself, so it resulted in both men and women being devalued. It is universally known that women were often treated as inept and helpless rather than sophisticated people with autonomy and capabilities. In fact, during this time, “married women were consistently compared with minor children and the insane-- both categories of people considered incapable of caring for themselves. To marry a woman was, in one sense, to ‘adopt’ her-- or at least to adopt responsibility for all the circumstances of life with which she entered the marriage” (Teachman 39). Furthermore, when women got married, they would legally cease to exist.
REVIEW OF LITRATURE A.) SUMMARY SOURCE A Although the whole book had information on the Salem witch trials. The introduction, chapter 1 and 2 and the conclusion had information regarding the research needed • Introduction: states what the Salem witch trials where and who they accused.
Mass hysteria a condition affecting a group of persons, characterized by excitement or anxiety, Irrational behavior or beliefs, or inexplicable symptoms of illness (Dictionary.com). An Example of Mass Hysteria is The Salem Witch Trials. The Salem Witch Trials happened in 1692 when girls called witchery on the town of Salem, Massachusetts. These girls thought to have seen the devil, but they really hadn't as they were trying to protect each other. The Trials ended up taking 20 lives of innocent villagers who were being accused of witchery.
Reverend Parris’s need for a good reputation had an impact of the tragic ending in Salem. An example of Reverend Parris’s desire of good reputation shows when he makes the claim “I am certain there be no element of witchcraft here”(Miller 14). Although he knows Abigail might be involved in witchcraft he is arguing against it so that no one will suspect that he is connected to witchcraft in any way. He doesn’t want his reputation in the town to be ruined. Reverend Parris drills Abigail about what the girls were doing in the forest because it reflects on him.
Reverend Parris was a greedy, selfish man who went to extreme lengths to save his reputation and job claiming he was seeking help for the sake of his daughter who lay unconscious due to witchcraft. When his daughter awakes she joins a group of girls who were originally found in the woods together. Reverend Parris describes the majority as “ all innocent and Christian people are happy for the courts in Salem! These people are gloomy for it.” ( The Crucible pg.87).
“Speak only when spoken to.” These words are something that many women have heard throughout history. They have heard it from their parents, their husbands, and their brothers. It is a phrase that is intended to belittle women and silence them when they are not in the privacy of their own homes. In a time and place where young girls were taught that freedom and individuality were privileges that they were not able to enjoy, it is easy to see how the search for a voice and attention could have negative consequences.
In the play Reverend Parris is typically on the side that the majority is on. This is because he believes if he is on the “winning” side then his name will grow in standing. There is a turnaround in Parris’s beliefs at the ending of the play. Parris completely changes his views and opinions once the people start to turn on him. This is a terrific example of him just trying to protect himself and his reputation depending on the majority 's opinions.
Men and women also had different takes on sin. Women were more likely to read their sins as a pact with the devil no matter how severe the sin was whereas men paid close attention to the sin as an individual moment of weakness in which they would be able to return to their relationship with God. Believing that they could turn to the devil themselves, women were more likely to then accept that other women could be equally demonized.
Parris is also a very selfish man who is only worried about staying minister and trying to make himself have a luxurious life style. He show how selfish he is by saying” The cause is yet unknown. I have had enough contention since i came; I want no more. ”(Miller, 174). He show himself as being selfish in this line because he doesn't worry about there being a witch in salem, he is only worried about keeping his job as minister.
Parris is a very self-centered man and is very embedded in his place in the community. He is a preacher for the church of Salem and his niece and daughter have been “bewitched” or so he thinks. Parris believes what he does is just and that no one should oppose him. This is also why he refuses to let news about his niece and daughter get out, he doesn’t want people to overthrow his position. Parris is a static character due to his nature of unchanging personality wise throughout the crucible, he is always self-centered.
Women in the 1600s to the 1800s were very harshly treated. They were seen as objects rather than people. They were stay-at-home women because people didn’t trust them to hold jobs. They were seen as little or weak. Women living in this time period had to have their fathers choose their husbands.
The first four colonies of America were, New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay Colony, Rhode Island, following with Connecticut. John Winthrop, Thomas Hooker, Roger Williams, along with Anne Hutchinson, were few of the founders of the first colonies. Centered around religion, after escaping religious persecution, these colonies based the way they lived their lives around the Bible, Church, along with the New testament. The Puritans emphasized religious obligations and followed strict guidelines pertaining to the Bible. They broke away from the church of England and became their own religion following the teachings of the Bible as well as the Old Testament.
The Salem Witch Trials, with lies, manipulation and so much more. Abigail should be held responsible for the imprisonment and execution of innocent people. Abigail was spreading rumors and messing with bad spirits, also lying about Elizabeth haunting her during trial. At the beggining of the story, she spreads rumors of the so called bewitchment instead of denying it and saying that all they did was run into the woods. The religious people in town started hearing more rumors.
Reverend Parris is the minister of Salem's church and has been for a short time. The church is the central body of authority in this community along with the court. One night, Parris comes