“The Devil in Massachusetts”
The witch hunts in Salem Village were a huge tragedy on American History, but has America really learned its lesson on major principles that should never have happened in the first place? Marion Starkey did wonderful research as to let this book shine even in its horrible tale. Let’s take a look at the accounts that led up to the mass hysteria that has become a fundamental part of this countries embarrassment. All in all, after all the duck settled 19 witches would die from a fact that people didn’t use common sense
The incidents seem to revolve around the Parris’s household. Reverend Samuel Parris came to the town of Salem in 1689. Starkey made references to the Parris children Betty and Abigail (who was the niece of Parris) and the spells and voodoo the slave Tituba had played with them. The girls found the games fascinating and decided to invite there other friends from the village Mary Walcott, Elizabeth Booth, Susanna Sheldon, Elizabeth Hubbard, Sarah Churchill, Mary Warren, Mercy Lewis and finally Ann Putnam these girls became what was collectively known as the “afflicted ones”. They dabbled hours on end with Tituba learning the craft of witchery.
The Parris girls were the first to come down with this strange sickness, they would have violent outbreaks especially during prayer. The good reverend tried to keep everything hush hush for as long as he could but it soon became noticeable at the church when these girls started having their outbreaks. So, Reverend Paris decided to call the town physician, Dr. Griggs to see what has become of his children. This was totally out of his area of specialties so as he tried to come up with a reasonable explanation on what had befallen on the girls, he saw that science had no provision for what ails them, so he came up with a bright idea that it was evil that had come over the children. This is where all common sense left these normally good people.
One by one the “afflicted” girls...