The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. The trials resulted in the executions of 20 people, most of them women. One of the accused was Sarah Good, who was born in 1653 in Salem Village. She was married to William Good and they had two young children. Sarah and her family were considered to be poor and socially outcast. Sarah Good's involvement in the witch trials began in February 1692 when she was accused by several young girls of bewitching them.
Good maintained her innocence, though one of the “afflicted” girls alleged that she had been stabbed by Good’s specter while Good remained on stand. A knife was found on the girl, yet was subsequently claimed by a man who acknowledged that he had discarded the knife the day before. Although the girl was reprimanded for falsehood, Sarah Good was kept on trial.
During most of the first week in March, while on trial before the local magistrates, Sarah Good was taken to Ipswich jail every night and returned in the morning, a distance of about ten miles each way. No actual evidence of the crime was ever presented during the trial and one of the young accusers was even caught in a lie when she claimed Good s spirit stabbed her with a knife, according to an article in The New England magazine.
Sarah Good's involvement in the witch trials began in February 1692 when she was accused by several young girls of bewitching them. These girls, including Betty Parris and Abigail Williams, claimed that they had been tormented by Sarah's spectral presence. They testified in court that Sarah would send out her spirit to harm and torment them.
Sarah Good and the Salem Witch Trials
Penniless, pregnant, and pugnacious! Say what you like, but Sarah Good was no weak woman. A disadvantaged down-and-out, Good was clear-cut for a witchcraft conviction. Indeed, Salem’s Sarah Good was executed for little more than being unliked. Yet Good was officially indicted on “certain detestable arts called witchcraft and sorceries, wickedly and feloniously hath used, practised and exercised, at and within the township of Salem within the county of Essex aforesaid.” Good’s was even the first warrant for arrest in Salem’s Witch Trials.
What history haunts Salem’s brave beggar? How was this bold woman blamed for black magic?
Sarah Good vehemently denied the accusations and claimed her innocence. However, her poverty, social status, and unconventional behavior made her an easy target for the accusers. She was seen as an outcast and was already known for her confrontational and aggressive attitude. During her trial, Sarah Good was subjected to intense questioning and was even pressured to confess to being a witch. Despite her claims of innocence, she was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. On July 19, 1692, Sarah Good, along with four other convicted witches, was executed on Gallows Hill in Salem. She maintained her innocence until the end and even refused to confess in order to save her own life. The story of Sarah Good serves as a tragic reminder of the hysteria and injustice that fueled the Salem witch trials. Many innocent people, like Sarah, were accused and persecuted based on mere accusations and superstitions. The trials left a lasting impact on American history and continue to be studied as a cautionary tale about the dangers of mass hysteria and the importance of due process..
Reviews for "The Trials and Tribulations of Sarah Good: A Closer Look at the Salem Witch Trials"
- Emily - 1/5 stars - This book was a complete disappointment. The story lacked depth and consistency, and the characters were poorly developed. I couldn't connect with any of them, and found myself not caring about what happened to them. The plot was predictable and unoriginal, and it felt like I had read the same story a hundred times before. Overall, I would not recommend "Sarah Good Witch Trials" to anyone looking for a captivating and unique read.
- Michael - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to read "Sarah Good Witch Trials" as I am a fan of historical fiction with a touch of supernatural elements. However, the execution of this book left much to be desired. The pacing was slow and tedious, and the descriptive language was overdone, making it difficult to follow the storyline. The characters lacked depth and had very little growth throughout the book. I also found several inconsistencies in the plot, which made it hard to immerse myself in the story. Overall, I was disappointed with "Sarah Good Witch Trials" and wouldn't recommend it to others.
- Jessica - 1/5 stars - I struggled to get through "Sarah Good Witch Trials". The writing style was incredibly dry and lacked any sort of excitement or emotion. The dialogue was stilted and unrealistic, and the characters felt like cardboard cutouts with no depth. The historical elements were interesting, but they were poorly integrated into the story. The plot was predictable, and the twists were forced and unconvincing. I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it fell flat on every level for me. I would not recommend "Sarah Good Witch Trials" to anyone looking for an engaging and well-written historical fiction novel.
- Benjamin - 2/5 stars - As a fan of witch trials and historical fiction, I was excited to pick up "Sarah Good Witch Trials". However, the overall execution of this book left much to be desired. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of boring and slow scenes, followed by rushed and underdeveloped plot points. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard to care about their outcomes. Additionally, I found the ending to be unsatisfying and abrupt. While the historical elements were interesting, they couldn't make up for the shortcomings in the storytelling. Overall, "Sarah Good Witch Trials" fell short of my expectations and failed to deliver an engaging and captivating read.