Table of Contents
- 1 What caused someone to be accused of witchcraft?
- 2 What happens if someone was accused of being a witch?
- 3 What are signs of witchcraft Act 1?
- 4 What did the first three accused of witchcraft have in common?
- 5 What do they and others mention as signs of witchcraft?
- 6 What happens in the woods before Act 1 that causes Betty’s mysterious illness?
- 7 How did they punish witches?
- 8 How do you respond to accusations of witchcraft?
- 9 How old would you have to be to be accused witchcraft?
- 10 Who were the accusers of the Salem witch trials?
What caused someone to be accused of witchcraft?
Somebody new to a community might be accused of witchcraft because his or her neighbours were suspicious of them. Sometimes a person might pretend to be bewitched because it was a way of making money. People were more suspicious of witchcraft when the harvest failed, as they looked to find a cause.
What happens if someone was accused of being a witch?
The so-called Witchcraft Act of 1604 served as the primary English law for witchcraft, deeming it a felony. A witch convicted of a minor offense could be imprisoned for a year; a witch found guilty twice was sentenced to death.
What options did an accused witch have?
What options did an accused witch have in Salem? They could admit they were witches, and they would be hanged. The other choice was deny it and go through a trial and usually end up in cases where they were killed. 1 person denied being a witch and he was prest to death.
What are signs of witchcraft Act 1?
Overall, the symptoms of witchcraft depicted throughout the play involve people being incapacitated, physically harmed, and suffering from audible and visible hallucinations. In Act I, Scene i, Betty Parris and Ruth Putnam are both unable to wake: ABIGAIL: Yes, Uncle.
What did the first three accused of witchcraft have in common?
The first three women accused were social deviants; a slave, a scandalized widow, and a long-term beggar. Neither Good or Osborne attended church, something that proved to be a determining factor during their sentencing. The three suspected witches were transported to Boston and incarcerated until their trial.
What are Dr Griggs findings?
What are Dr. Griggs’ findings? He is unable to find a cure for Betty’s illness and suggests they look to “unnatural causes” (witchcraft) for the reason she is “ill.”
What do they and others mention as signs of witchcraft?
What do they and others mention as signs of witchcraft? Ann Putnam starts talking about witchcraft when Ann come to visit Parris and Betty with the rumor that Betty was seen flying. She suggests that Betty is sick because of the devil. Sign of witchcraft include not being able to hear psalms.
What happens in the woods before Act 1 that causes Betty’s mysterious illness?
What happens in the woods before Act I that causes Betty’s mysterious illness? Abigail and the other girls were with Tituba in the forest, dancing and performing rituals. Paris found them, caught a glimpse of what they were doing, and scared the girls so that they left the scene.
What major sin does it seem that John Proctor has committed?
Near the end of the play, John Proctor confesses to the sin of adultery. He slept with Abigail Williams and then later rejected her.
How did they punish witches?
Many faced capital punishment for witchcraft, either by burning at the stake, hanging, or beheading. Similarly, in New England, people convicted of witchcraft were hanged.
How do you respond to accusations of witchcraft?
Technically, those accused of practicing witchcraft, or their next of kin, could respond to accusations by filing charges of defamation against their accusers. However, defendants won only four of fifteen such cases filed.
What made you a prime candidate for being accused of witchcraft?
You are of low status. Being of low status or in some other way marginal made you a prime candidate for being accused of witchcraft in the 17th century. For example, Sarah Good, one of the first women accused during the witch trials in Salem, was very poor and often begged to her neighbors. She was thus a “safe” target for accusation.
How old would you have to be to be accused witchcraft?
You’re middle-aged. Roach also points out that, although the women accused of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials in 1692 ranged in age from over 80 to as young as 5, most were in their late-40s and 50s.
Who were the accusers of the Salem witch trials?
The accusers were generally young females between the ages of 11 and 20. The mischief began when a group of girls accused Tituba, a slave from South America who had told their fortunes, of witchcraft after they became mysteriously ill.