A Monty Python Witch The Monty Python witch sketch is a well-known comedic scene from the British sketch comedy show Monty Python's Flying Circus. The sketch involves a group of villagers accusing a woman of being a witch and going through absurd and comedic trials to prove her guilt. The sketch begins with a group of villagers presenting a woman to Sir Bedevere, a knight who is tasked with determining if she is a witch. Sir Bedevere questions the woman and attempts to find evidence of her being a witch. The questions and evidence are absurd, featuring comical reasoning such as "she turned me into a newt" and "witches burn, and wood burns, so witches must be made of wood." The comedic trials to prove the woman's guilt include weighing her against a duck to see if she floats, since witches are believed to float due to their connection to the devil.
What begins as a school project becomes an emotional journey into historic wounds.
THE LAST WITCH is a documentary following efforts to exonerate Elizabeth Johnson Jr., the last person convicted of witchcraft during the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. As a schoolteacher, her students, and a state senator work to clear Elizabeth’s name, what begins as a unique school project quickly becomes an emotional journey into historical wounds left unattended—and the contemporary implications of those wounds.
THE LAST WITCH shows how a schoolteacher, her students, and their allies not only set Elizabeth’s wrongful conviction right, but that by making amends with the past, they provide all of us with inspiration to create a better future. THE LAST WITCH spotlights the impact one person can have to change history, and draws attention to our own individual responsibility to follow her example and reduce bullying and ostracization everywhere.
Who was. ..
THE • LAST
WITCH?
The last person tried for the crime of witchcraft in the Salem Witch Trials was Elizabeth Johnson, Jr., a 22-year-old woman who was deemed “simplish,” accused, arrested, bullied and convicted. While she was not executed, her sentence as a “detestable witch” continued to subject her to ongoing injustices after the Trials and remained beyond her lifetime until present day.
August 10, 1692 : Arrested for Witchcraft
January 11, 1693 : Sentenced to Hang
July 28, 2022: Exonerated of the Crime,
The Last Salem Witch Has Been Exonerated
The documentary follows the students’ path to exonerating Elizabeth Johnson Jr., one of more than 200 people accused of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials. She was tried and found guilty in 1693 after confessing that another woman had persuaded her to become a witch. Historical records suggest that Johnson was targeted partially due to experiencing mental disability, and her vulnerability was compounded by her status as an unwed and childless woman.
Unwed women were viewed with suspicion at the time of the trials, and many individuals convicted were later exonerated by their own descendants. With no descendants to clear her name, Johnson’s wrongful conviction remained in place—making her the last remaining witch in Salem history—until Carrie LaPierre’s class came to her aid.
With the guidance of LaPierre and DiZoglio, the students first worked to draft a bill exonerating Johnson. However, it stalled in the state’s Joint Committee on the Judiciary. The students pivoted to a letter-writing campaign. After a few years of lobbying and petitioning, they were eventually able to add legislation exonerating Johnson as part of an amendment to a state budget, which passed.
Director Annika Hylmö told Ms., “It struck us that this bill, which should have been fairly easy to sign off on, wasn’t. Just to clear a woman’s name.”
Students learned to formulate arguments in defense of someone who had been treated unjustly, and through the success of their campaigning, learned their voices matter.
“Before [the students] worked on this project,” Hylmö said, “they never thought they had any voice in government at all. There was a real shift in mindset that occurred—to ‘no these people are working for me, the citizen, and they have to listen to what I have to say.’”
Carrie LaPierre with some of her students at the Old Parish Cemetery in North Andover, Mass., where they worked to establish a memorial stone in Elizabeth Johnson Jr.’s honor. (Instagram)
Righting the historical wrongs of the Salem witch trials is important because—as Sylvia Federici wrote in her book, Caliban and the Witch—they functioned as a way to police women’s behavior throughout the transition from feudalism to capitalism. During this time, resources like land became privatized, and people suddenly needed money to support themselves. This was especially difficult for women because the work they typically performed, reproductive labor, is often unpaid and undervalued.
Women were also excluded from paid labor jobs or paid pennies compared to their male coworkers, forcing them into a role of heightened economic dependence on men. This new lack of independence was exacerbated by the targeting of midwives during the trials—the church deemed contraceptives, abortion and other reproductive care ‘witchcraft.’
The witch trials worked to enforce new social roles which cemented these changes; they painted women as unruly, evil and dangerous, instilling widespread fear and quelling any desires to revolt. Any woman who did not conform to the new expectation of submissiveness and focus on so-called wifely duties—such as Johnson, who was unwed—could easily be labeled as anti-religion and deserving of punishments such as hanging, having her tongue cut or being stoned.
Though these trials concluded hundreds of years ago, their effects on women’s place in society have lasted to this day. Work that is traditionally done by women is still undervalued, and the justice system continues to punish women for exercising autonomy over their own bodies. The Last Witch shows how addressing injustices of the past is crucial for a more equitable future. This class project was able to literally change history and arm students with the tools to advocate for equality and inclusion in the present.
“There is a sense of hope and encouragement in this story, and the idea that you have the ability to take action,” Hymlö told Ms.
“In fact, you’ve probably got the responsibility to,” producer Dawn Green added.
“The Last Witch” film is currently in production. For updates on its release date, follow @thelastwitchfilm on Instagram, @thelastwitch22 on X or @thelastwitchfilmdoc on Facebook.
U.S. democracy is at a dangerous inflection point—from the demise of abortion rights, to a lack of pay equity and parental leave, to skyrocketing maternal mortality, and attacks on trans health. Left unchecked, these crises will lead to wider gaps in political participation and representation. For 50 years, Ms. has been forging feminist journalism—reporting, rebelling and truth-telling from the front-lines, championing the Equal Rights Amendment, and centering the stories of those most impacted. With all that’s at stake for equality, we are redoubling our commitment for the next 50 years. In turn, we need your help, Support Ms. today with a donation—any amount that is meaningful to you. For as little as $5 each month, you’ll receive the print magazine along with our e-newsletters, action alerts, and invitations to Ms. Studios events and podcasts. We are grateful for your loyalty and ferocity.
The Last 'Witch' in Europe City Country Culture
Picture-perfect Klöntal in the Swiss canton of Glarus has deep blue lakes, snow-covered mountains and cows. But its pretty landscape belies its dark past. At the end of the 18th century, Anna Göldi was tortured and executed for being a witch. Her treatment was politically motivated, and her killing sparked outrage across Europe.
From 16/03/2023 to 26/01/2024
" The comedic trials to prove the woman's guilt include weighing her against a duck to see if she floats, since witches are believed to float due to their connection to the devil. When the woman does not float, the villagers still conclude that she is a witch because ducks also float, and therefore the woman must be made of wood like a duck. The witch sketch is known for its absurd logic and humorous wordplay.
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Reviews for "Monty Python's Witchcraft Characters: Standout Performances"
1. Name: Sarah
Rating: 2/5
Review: I had high expectations for "Monty Python Witch" but was left disappointed. The humor fell flat for me, and I found most jokes to be repetitive and predictable. The storyline lacked depth and failed to engage me. Overall, it felt like a series of disjointed sketches rather than a cohesive and entertaining film. Perhaps this style of humor just isn't for me, but I was left unimpressed.
2. Name: James
Rating: 3/5
Review: While "Monty Python Witch" had its moments, I couldn't fully appreciate the film. I admire the creativity and quirkiness of the Monty Python team, but some of the jokes and gags went completely over my head. It felt like an inside joke that I wasn't a part of, which left me feeling disconnected from the humor. Additionally, the pacing was inconsistent, making it difficult to fully invest in the storyline. I can understand why it has a cult following, but personally, it didn't resonate with me as much as I had hoped.
3. Name: Emma
Rating: 2/5
Review: I found "Monty Python Witch" to be chaotic and confusing. The constant jumping from one scene to another made it difficult to follow the narrative, and I often found myself wondering what was happening. The humor, too, didn't resonate with me, as I prefer more subtle and witty jokes rather than the slapstick style that dominates this film. I can appreciate the cult status of Monty Python's work, but this particular film missed the mark for me. It lacked the cleverness and originality I expected, leaving me disappointed overall.
4. Name: John
Rating: 2/5
Review: I'll be honest, I just didn't get "Monty Python Witch." The humor was too absurd and nonsensical for my taste. I struggled to find any semblance of a plot, and the constant barrage of over-acting and exaggerated characters became tiresome. I can see why some people find it funny, but it simply wasn't my cup of tea. I couldn't connect with the film on any level and ended up feeling like I wasted my time.