Shape Of Women, Witchcraft In Colonial New England By Carol F. Karlsen

In the reading “The Devil in the Shape of a Women, Witchcraft in Colonial New England,” by Carol F. Karlsen reveals the social constructions the people from New England had about witchcraft during the seventeenth century and the gender relationship amongst its people. Karlsen address the Salem Witch Trials and the large number of “witchcraft cases” that arose due to such beliefs. She focuses on the females who were accused of being witches in colonial New England and discusses the role and the position of women in the Puritan society.

During the seventeenth century, sex was seen as an act of impureness, even among married couples sex was seen as an illicit behavior. Sex was only to be performed for bearing children; therefore, as to keep couples from the devil’s temptation they were require to sleep in

Karlsen. She did an astonishing job describing what the Salem Witch Trials were all about. She gave various examples of what women faced during the seventeenth century in the colonies of New England; from women becoming impregnated by their maters, to women who inherited property because there was no male old enough to handle the properties.

The reading was very informative in many aspects, but what got my interest the most was the Puritan family hierarchical order. I mean, why on earth would the sons come in before their mothers. I find this so very frustrating. My mother was always the head of my family and to read that women only or if any would get one-third of their spouse’s property, really angers me. Not just that, but their own children wishing them to die, that is insane. These women didn’t have the final say in anything. Another thing that took me aback was that if the son felt in any way threaten that their mother would get more of the properties, he would accuse her of witchcraft and eventually have his way in obtaining those riches. Why, because these women were