A Break With Charity Ann Rinaldi

When a person was accused they were able to say that they were a witch so that they could keep their lives. The many people who were killed died for their religion. If a person gave in to the accusations that would mean they had very little faith and would be cast aside by the citizens of Salem. When you were accused of being a witch, you had to recite the Lord’s Prayer word for word in order to be free from harm. This did not happen to Sarah. When Sarah was fully done with no errors, Abigail said that Sarah was just listening to the black man that was around her. The black man represented the devil. They also said the devil was in the form of a yellow bird that would sit on top of a witch. After all the accusations, many people stopped coming to the church because they were afraid that they were going to be accused of being a witch.

In my opinion, the author’s purpose and goals for writing this book, was to discover the beliefs and historical context that fueled the witch panic of 1692. I believe that the people in town accused others of witchcraft

about the fictionalized story of the Salem witch trials that began in the mid-spring of

This led to the beginning of the Salem Witch Trials, in which more and more community members were accused. Nineteen people were hung, and two dogs were killed. Giles Corey was pressed to death with stones upon refusing to testify Most people were accused using spectral evidence, which is evidence based on dreams or visions. The trials were put to an end when Governor Phips own wife was accused, and he made spectral evidence illegal. (Ushistory.com) (Wallenfeldt)

This points that east side of town had a bone to pick with the west side. This evidence proves my claim because there were more women accused of being a witch on the east side than there were accusers so it seems like women on the east side are accusing women on the west side so the poor jealous women are accusing the rich old women. The young girls who were the accusers were good actors. The information I got from document D Is that the man Charles Upham the mayor of Salem

The Salem Witch Hunt by Richard Godbeer is a collection of brief documents over the history of witch trials in 1692 (Publisher Bedford/St Martin’s 2011). The book is organized by dates in order which the events occurred in. He describes the cause of fear and chaos that rose throughout the Puritans and others. Before the documents, Godbeer would give a basic run down on a claim before going into great detail to explain the event in the documents. Some of the events that occurred in The Salem Witch Hunt were strange and outrageous. The Salem Witch Hunt is the most controversial in American history and people like me questioned if it was even real. The start of the witch hunt makes me wonder if any of this actually happened and how the Puritans took everything overboard. However Godbeer does a good job on informing you and explaining every assertion with his documents.

During today’s trials, people are innocent until proven guilty. But long ago, during the Salem Witch Trials, people were guilty until proven innocent. This was not the best system, and its flaws are represented in the novel, A Break with Charity. Set in 17th century Massachusetts, A Break with Charity by Ann Rinaldi depicts a young girl at her worst. Susanna English (the main character) lives in Salem Town. The strict Puritan values in Salem leads a circle of girls to portray themselves as haunted by witches, causing chaos for themselves, Susanna, and Tituba. Using dialogue, the author flawlessly shows how poor choices lead to consequences.

In, “Six Women of Salem” by, Marilynne K. Roach she does three major things that make her book extraordinary. First, her interesting style of writing skillfully strengthens the envelope of time in the book. Second, Roach masterfully answers any questions the reader or I may have or had about these Witch Trails. Third, K. Roach successfully illustrates to her readers the story of these horrid trials. In the stories of the six women, Roach helps us grasp events of the trials in the conditions

“In three hundred years, we have not adequately penetrated nine months of Massachusetts history.If we knew more about Salem, we might attend to it less, a conundrum that touches on something of what propelled the witch panic in the first place” (5).

The hysteria, craze, trials, and deaths, still rest an unsolved case. The theories of politics, rivalries, religion and the “circle girls” seem the most believable, in my eyes. However, as the happenings in Salem village still continue to mislead and amaze not only historians, but many others, the witch trials lie a great turning point for Salem, and the lives of many; let alone

obligated to share the stories of the Salem witch trials not for mere curiousity, but to show the

During early 1692, in Essex, Massachusetts, a group of girls began to practice “conjuration with sieves and keys, and peas, and nails, and horseshoes”. By February, the adults tried to put into words what was happening to their children: “odd postures,” “foolish, ridiculous speeches”. Local physician William Griggs warned Reverend Samuel Parris, father of two of these girls, that he suspected the “Evil Hand” or more specifically, “malefic witchcraft”. As a result of this bizarre occurrence, rumors and assumptions spread rapidly across the area of Salem Village. The legal system was unkempt and clearly unprepared for something so baffling. As a result, the trials were conducted aimlessly and disorderly, without consideration of the persecuted. Throughout countless records, evidence was slim and weak. This was just the beginning of what is known as the Salem Witch Trials. Due to an unorganized legal system, The Salem Witch Trials exposed Puritan society as unprepared, unlawful, and unethical.

I am writing this report today to explain the major reasons behind the horrific witchcraft trials that took place in Salem, Massachusetts in the years 1692 and 1693. For years this event has been ignored. However, after analyzing the evidence in this case, I have some startling news to share. First, I will share with you the various theories that make the most sense. Then I will explain what I believe caused the Salem community to respond in such a cruel and violent way.

Many people know of the Salem witch trials that took place in Salem, Massachusetts in the year 1692 spilling over into the year 1693. But for those who do not know, the Salem witch trials were a series of trials against men, women, and children accused of being a witch and or practicing witchcraft. In “The Devils Snare: The Salem Witch Trials of 1692” by Mary Beth Norton, the author recollects the stories of real life accounts of those accusers and the accused in Salem during that time. Mary Beth Norton explains the Salem witch trials differently than other books and articles by giving wide-ranging background on incidents leading toward the trials and how events in history were related to the trials.

To show its authenticity we can compare the way the novel showcases the Salem witch trials and how they occurred in real life. In the book we get to experience the lies and the tricks the group of girls used to deceive their town of "evil forces". In the book the witch trials are placed in the hands of the group of girls. As well as in real life because in 1692 in Salem Massachusetts there were also a group of girls who claimed to be haunted by the devil. It is easy to say that in both the novel and the nonfictional adventure panic erupted within the towns, but although people looked for answers and a closure for their problems. Without thinking they followed the "wise" commands of the girls. Believing that the people being accused of witchery had made a pact with the devil. People have always had fear of the devils wish to invade the church, so knowing the witches would do his