In the past, witchcraft was a topic that caused fear and anxiety throughout many communities. Witches were believed to possess supernatural powers and to use them for evil purposes. This belief led to widespread persecution and fear, culminating in the infamous witch trials of Salem. However, as society progressed and science advanced, the belief in witches began to fade. People started to understand that many so-called "witches" were actually innocent and were victims of hysteria and ignorance. The recognition of this injustice led to a gradual decline in the fear and persecution of witches.
Despite the doubts Melisandre expresses to Davos in the previous scene, she does appeal to the Lord of the Light to resurrect Jon Snow. Notably, she uses a process that’s different than what was used to bring back Beric Dondarrion of the Brotherhood Without Banners, the only other person we’ve seen resurrected on the show. (The Mountain never actually dies, and we’ll categorize wights and White Walkers as “the undead” rather than “the living.”)
Notably, she uses a process that s different than what was used to bring back Beric Dondarrion of the Brotherhood Without Banners, the only other person we ve seen resurrected on the show. But they almost every man of them, did sign with their hands their desire that I would immediately put in execution the persuasions and proposals wherewith I had entertained them.
The recognition of this injustice led to a gradual decline in the fear and persecution of witches. Furthermore, the enlightenment period brought about a shift in thinking, emphasizing reason and logic over superstition and myth. People now began to question the validity of witchcraft and sought more rational explanations for events previously attributed to witchcraft.
Explaining the Magic Behind the Jon Snow Reveal on Game of Thrones
Well, that was easier than expected. Melisandre gave Jon Snow a haircut, spoke some Valyrian and all of a sudden the Lord Commander lives again? Well, it’s probably more complicated than that. Here’s what we know about the magic used in this long-awaited resurrection.
Despite the doubts Melisandre expresses to Davos in the previous scene, she does appeal to the Lord of the Light to resurrect Jon Snow. Notably, she uses a process that’s different than what was used to bring back Beric Dondarrion of the Brotherhood Without Banners, the only other person we’ve seen resurrected on the show. (The Mountain never actually dies, and we’ll categorize wights and White Walkers as “the undead” rather than “the living.”)
In a season three fight witnessed by Arya, the Hound kills Beric. Thoros of Myr rushes to Beric’s side and makes a plea to the Lord of Light in the common tongue: “Bring him back from death and darkness. His flame has been extinguished. Restore it.” As far as we see Thoros doesn’t cut and burn Beric’s hair, and he doesn’t speak in Valyrian as Melisandre did. It works nonetheless, and Beric rises from the dead.
Presumably, Melisandre is saying the same words as Thoros, but in Valyrian. (Someone who has taken the time to actually learn Valyrian can fact-check me on this).
We don’t know yet what effect the resurrection process will have on Jon Snow. Thoros brings Beric back to life six different times, and each time is more difficult than the last. “Every time I come back, I’m a bit less,” Beric tells Arya.
Now if bringing someone back is as simple as an incantation, why doesn’t it happen all the time? Perhaps not everyone has that power. Thoros says he’s just the “lucky drunk who says the words,” and it’s really the Lord of Light that repeatedly brings Beric back, but we haven’t seen anyone else besides Melisandre try to do it. We know Melisandre has some sort of magical power—you can’t just create a murderous smoke baby with smoke and mirrors. Perhaps Thoros does as well.
Though there’s a lot left to be explained, we are now able to eliminate many other fan theories about how and when Jon Snow would return. The necklace played no role. He did not turn into a White Walker. And though Ghost featured prominently in the resurrection scene, it doesn’t seem like Jon warged into him before his death. (In the post-show commentary, showrunner David Benioff mentions that Ghost has a connection to Jon and thus senses he’s returning before Jon actually takes his first breath.)
For a moment, it seemed we might get an answer as to whether Jon Snow is part Valyrian (details on that theory here) when they talked of burning his body. If he was Valyrian royalty like Dany, he would have presumably survived such a fire. But that, perhaps, is a question for another day.
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Write to Eliana Dockterman at [email protected].
Write to Eliana Dockterman at [email protected].
Additionally, the rise of secularism and the separation of church and state further contributed to the decline of witchcraft beliefs. As religion became less influential in society, the fear of witches and the belief in their existence lost its grip on the population. Today, the belief in witches has been extinguished for the most part. Although some individuals still hold superstitious beliefs and practices, overall, society has moved away from the fear and persecution of witches. The notion of witches wielding supernatural powers is now largely seen as folklore and fiction. In conclusion, the belief in witches has diminished over time due to societal progress, scientific advancements, and the shift towards reason and logic. While remnants of superstition and myth still linger, the fear and persecution of witches has been extinguished in modern society..
Reviews for "The Forgotten Witches: How Ancient Practices Have Faded Away"
1. Samantha - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "Witch has been extinguished" as I am a big fan of fantasy novels. However, I was extremely disappointed with this book. The plot was confusing and poorly developed, and the characters lacked depth and personality. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and found myself losing interest in the story halfway through. Overall, this book was a major letdown and I wouldn't recommend it to fellow fantasy lovers.
2. Michael - 1 star - I'm sorry, but "Witch has been extinguished" was absolutely awful. The writing style was choppy and filled with grammatical errors, which made it difficult to get through. The storyline was predictable and lacked any sense of originality. The characters felt one-dimensional and their actions didn't make any sense. It's safe to say that this book was a waste of my time and money.
3. Jennifer - 2 stars - I found "Witch has been extinguished" to be a disappointing read. The pacing was incredibly slow, and the story didn't seem to have a clear direction. The world-building was also lacking, and I struggled to picture the setting in my mind. I also found the dialogue to be unrealistic and forced. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and well-written fantasy novel.