Sarah Good, a poor and outcast woman, played a significant role in the infamous Salem witch trials. She was accused by young girls of being a witch, and her presence and reputation in the community made her an easy target. Sarah Good's role in the trials was contentious, as her actions and words were often deemed suspicious and potentially witch-like. However, her true role in the witch trials can be interpreted in different ways. One could argue that Sarah Good's role was that of a scapegoat. As a marginalized individual with little social standing, she was an easy target for the community's fears and anxieties.
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There was a social divide between the leading families as well as a split between factions that were for and against the village s new pastor, Samuel Parris. Martha Corey Goodwife Corey was a member of the congregation at the time, when the group of girls that were supposedly tormented, tried to reveal her as a witch.
As a marginalized individual with little social standing, she was an easy target for the community's fears and anxieties. The girls accusing Good saw her as a convenient outlet for their troubles and insecurities, blaming her for their personal torments. They claimed to witness her engaging in witchcraft, using her powers to harm others.
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In 1692, during the summer, almost 200 people were the targets of accusations of practicing witchcraft. The witch-craze was started once a group of young women were believed to be possessed after having convulsions and claimed to be tormented by ghostly visions. Many of the accused were pronounced guilty of witchcraft; twenty were executed, nineteen others were hanged, and some became prisoners.
It has been said that the Salem Witch Trials were simply a result of personal political and religious differences, that most of these individuals were outcasts, or enemies. The rivalry of the between two families, the Putnams and Porters, were thought to be a contribution to the cause of the witch hunts. The witchcraft accusations started in the household of Reverend Samuel Parris, who came home several times to behold his daughter and others participating in fortune-telling and attempting to conjure demonic spirits. (“The Salem Witch Trials”)
During this, it is described that the girls were hysterical with violent convulsions that twisted their bodies. After the episodes, the girls claimed to have been harassed and reportedly were ‘under an evil hand’. “Nearly 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft in Salem during the summer of 1692. Twenty accused witches were executed (15 women and 5 men). Nineteen were hanged following conviction, and one was pressed to death for refusing to enter a plea. Four prisoners (three women and a man) died in jail. The trials began in June and continued for four months, the final executions taking place on September 22.” (“Salem Witch Trials”)
During this time in Massachusetts, there weren’t many regulations or justice in the government and most decisions were from the church. Because of this, majority were found guilty with no explanation or evidence. There wasn’t but a few legal protections for the defendants against the allegations. During the trials, preliminary examinations and the ensuing, the accused witches were typically asked questions that were “, designed to elicit answers that would disclose whom the defendants had bewitched and how, instead of more neutral and impartial questions aimed at ascertaining whether they had actually bewitched anyone at all.” (“Salem Witch Trials”)
The trials didn’t come to an end until Reverend Increase Mather questioned the reliability of the evidence. It didn’t reflect the affiliations from the accused, and the trials ended in May of 1693, and around 50 more people confessed to being witches. “Historians have had great difficulty explaining this puzzling episode, which was one of the last two witch-hunts in the English-speaking world. It does seem, however, to have been generated in part by divisions within Salem Village that were magnified because local institutions were unable to resolve the conflicts satisfactorily. Still, current interpretations have not yet adequately accounted for women’s prominent role in the crisis.” There wasn’t much justice or redemption for those who were not guilty, and a lot of studies conclude that it was strictly an unreasonable social issue that caused the last witch hunts in English history. (“The Salem Witchcraft Trials”)
Martha Corey (Goodwife Corey) was a member of the congregation at the time, when the group of girls that were supposedly tormented, tried to reveal her as a witch. Her arrest was immediate once hearing of this. During her trial, the group of girls mimicked her every move in agony to convince that the witch had a hold on them. “The worshipful Mr. Hathorne asked her why she afflicted those children. She said she did not afflict them. He asked her, ‘Who did then?’ She said, ‘I do not know; how should I know?” She denied all the fingers that pointed to her and the girl’s stories of her. However, her actions of biting her own lip or pinching showed up on the girls. They taunted and interrogated her, and she was blamed for the most typical issues that the people experienced. They threw objects and shoes at her, and if she moved at all, the girls’ movements matched. She still denied and concluded that they couldn’t prove that she was a witch, but she was later committed to the Salem prison and the girls were no longer affected by her. (“The Salem Witch Trials, 1692”)
The injustice of the Salem Witch Trials created controversy and raised hateful intolerance of different individuality and the feel of power. It was ideally spawned from religious and political rivalry, and historians have different theories as to what is fact or fiction. It’s curious how they were solely outcasts or enemies of certain powerful families in Salem. To this day, those people were given an unlawful, torturous death with no closure. Majorities to this day, don’t even know or are aware of the event of the Salem Witch Trials. They could have been rightly or wrongly accused, but it is still considered an intolerance of early American history.
“Salem Witch Trials.” Gale Encyclopedia of American Law. Ed. Donna Batten. 3rd ed. Vol. 8. Detroit: Gale, 2010. 473-477. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 24 Sept. 2014.
Lawson, Deodat, A Brief and True Narrative of Some Remarkable Passages Relating to Sundry Persons Afflicted by Witchcraft at Salem Village(1692) [reprinted in Commager, Henry Steele, The Heritage of America (1949)]; Starkey, Marion, The Devil in Massachusetts (1989); Trask, Richard, “The Devil Hath Been Risen” (1997).
Mankiller, Wilma, and others. “Salem Witchcraft Trials.” The Reader’s Companion to U.S. Women’s History. Dec. 1 1998: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 25 Sep. 2014.
Stewart, Gail B. The Salem Witch Trials. (Understanding American history)San Diego, CA: ReferencePoint, Inc., 2013. Print.
There were two Salems in the late 17th century: a bustling commerce-oriented port community on Massachusetts Bay known as Salem Town, which would evolve into modern Salem, and, roughly 10 miles (16 km) inland from it, a smaller, poorer farming community of some 500 persons known as Salem Village. The village itself had a noticeable social divide that was exacerbated by a rivalry between its two leading families—the well-heeled Porters, who had strong connections with Salem Town’s wealthy merchants, and the Putnams, who sought greater autonomy for the village and were the standard-bearers for the less-prosperous farm families. Squabbles over property were commonplace, and litigiousness was rampant.
This allowed them to transfer their own perceived guilt and fears onto Sarah Good. Furthermore, Sarah Good's behavior and attitude during the trials could also be seen as a significant factor in her role. In court, she often behaved erratically and spoke incoherently, which only reinforced the perception of her being a witch. Her inability to clearly defend herself or communicate effectively made her an easy target for the jury and the accusers. She became seen as an embodiment of evil, solidifying her role as one of the accused witches. While Sarah Good's role in the witch trials may be seen as that of a scapegoat or an embodiment of evil, another perspective suggests that she was simply a victim of circumstance. As a poor and socially isolated woman, she lacked the means and the societal support to defend herself effectively. Good's ignorance and unfortunate circumstances made her an easy target for those seeking to rid the community of perceived threats. The accusations against her were an unfortunate consequence of her position in society. In conclusion, Sarah Good played a significant role in the Salem witch trials, whether as a scapegoat or a victim of circumstance. Her marginalized status and behavior during the trials made her an easy target for accusations of witchcraft. The role she ultimately played in the trials may never be fully understood, but it is clear that she experienced the consequences of a society plagued by hysteria and fear..
Reviews for "The Trial of Sarah Good: A Flawed System of Justice?"
1. Emily - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "The Role of Sarah Good in the Witch Trials" as I am a history buff and love learning about this period. However, I found the book to be quite disappointing. The author seemed to focus too much on irrelevant details, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged with the story. Additionally, I felt that the portrayal of Sarah Good was one-dimensional and lacked nuance. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied with this book.
2. Michael - 1 star - I couldn't get past the first few chapters of "The Role of Sarah Good in the Witch Trials." The writing style was incredibly dry and lacked any real sense of excitement or tension. The author seemed more interested in listing historical facts than crafting a compelling narrative. Furthermore, the characters felt flat and uninteresting. I was really hoping for a gripping account of the witch trials, but unfortunately, this book fell flat for me.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - As someone who has always been fascinated by the Salem Witch Trials, I was excited to read this book. However, I was left disappointed. The writing style was incredibly dense and difficult to follow, making it hard for me to stay engaged with the story. Additionally, I felt that the author didn't do justice to Sarah Good's character and missed an opportunity to explore her motives and experiences in a more compelling way. Overall, "The Role of Sarah Good in the Witch Trials" didn't live up to my expectations and I would not recommend it.
4. David - 1 star - I found "The Role of Sarah Good in the Witch Trials" to be a dull and uninteresting read. The author's writing style was convoluted and lacking in clarity, which made it hard for me to fully understand and appreciate the story. Furthermore, the pacing of the book was incredibly slow, and I found myself losing interest after just a few chapters. Overall, I was left unimpressed and would not recommend this book to others.