Salem Witchcraft, Volumes I and II / With an Account of Salem Village and a History of Opinions on Witchcraft and Kindred Subjects

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

17845

Title

Salem Witchcraft, Volumes I and II / With an Account of Salem Village and a History of Opinions on Witchcraft and Kindred Subjects

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Charles W. Upham's comprehensive history examines the 1692 Salem witchcraft trials, analyzing the delusion through theology, physiology, and social context. Upham utilizes extensive colonial depositions to reconstruct the events, challenging contemporary misconceptions and offering a detailed, scholarly account of the tragedy's origins and consequences.

Summary up to 500 words

Originally published as lectures in 1831 and significantly revised by 1867, Charles W. Upham's *Salem Witchcraft* stands as a definitive historical account of the 1692 prosecutions. Upham dedicates the first volume to the history of Salem Village and the broader evolution of witchcraft beliefs, while the second volume chronologically details the specific incidents of the tragedy. Through a rigorous examination of original documents, particularly the depositions taken by the General Court of Massachusetts, Upham argues that the trials were driven by a collective delusion involving the imagination, senses, and understanding rather than actual supernatural agency. He meticulously analyzes the behavior of the 'afflicted children' and the validity of 'spectre evidence,' demonstrating how fear and hysteria distorted reality. Upham investigates the lives of the accused, revealing that many were respected community members and large landholders rather than the vagrants often portrayed in contemporary accounts. He also explores the deep theological and political tensions between the village inhabitants and the town, the role of the clergy, and the legal mechanisms that fueled the panic. Upham seeks to restore the memory of the victims and provide a complete, correct view of a transaction universally misunderstood, securing the history of this dark period within the realm of knowledge rather than fable. The work serves as a testament to the power of prayer and the necessity of vigilance against the malice of the devil, while ultimately exposing the folly of the era's judicial proceedings.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Religion
• History