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Comparing The Salem Witchcraft Trials And Elizabeth Reis Damned Women

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Most of the people accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witchcraft Trials were women. While historian Carol F. Karlsen delves deeper into societal values that led so many women to be accused, in her book The Devil in the Shape of a Woman by focusing on social norms of the time, Elizabeth Reis, in her book Damned Women, focuses on the impact of gender in religion. They both discuss the importance of gender at the time, and the impact it made for the trials. There is not one clear reason why women were the main targets but each historian looks at a different aspect in 17th century American society where gender played a role. Both take a look at the way society functioned in the late 1600s and womens’ roles within the broader community. Societies’ …show more content…

They also confessed because the court decided in 1692 that if people confessed they would not be hung. When people were told they weren't going to die, they confessed because people were scared of death and not knowing if they would be saved and go to heaven. (Reis 124) The fear of hell is not specific to women, both men and women feared hell but women believed that by nature they were vile sinners, while men did not. This is because men and women have different reactions when they sin. While men don't submit to the devil, women give body and soul to the devil if they sin, letting their sin consume them completely. John Cotton writes “When a man wittingly and willingly commits any knowne sinne, he doth as actually give his Soule of the Devill, as a Witch doth her body and soule; we thereby renounce the covenant of God, and Satan takes possesion of us” (Reis 107). Not every person accused of witchcraft was spared. Bridget Bishop was hanged for witchcraft on July 10, 1692 after many people had been tormented by her. William Stacy testified against Bishop saying “the said Bishop or her shape clapt her coate close to her Leggs & hopt upon the bed and about the Roome and then went out: and the it was Dark.” (Reis 74) The Salem Witchcraft Trials were very influenced by religion and Puritan culture, which resulted in women being the main targets during the

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