Book Review: Salem Possessed: The Social Origins of Witchcraft

Book Review: Salem Possessed: The Social Origins of Witchcraft

Salem Witch Trials were held in the Salem village, Massachusetts, in the year 1692. Considering all the outbreaks of witchcraft in the 17th century, Salem's was possibly the most famous. Due to the fame of these trials in Salem village, often times the actuality of the Salem trials are enshrouded and people are frequently misled, unable to differentiate between reality and imagination. This is not the historians fault, the reason for the confusion is because of the increase in the interest of witchcraft over the years; for example: books are being written (generally for what will grab a reader's interest [distorting fact and fiction; putting in own ideas]), plays are being made (example: The Crucible). What differentiates other novels and this book is that the authors of this book are both history professors with the experience of writing about American history. They will write for people's knowledge; without the extra fluff to grab attention. In this novel, the authors Paul Boyer and Stepehen Nissenbaum analyze the economic and social divisions (to give understanding of the charges of witchcraft) of the Salem community.

The publication of this book resulted in offering a new look at the history of America, as it explores the life experienced by the Salem people in that time period. With the gathered information (for instance: legal records and Salem record book) and administering detailed examinations of the affected people in Salem, Boyer and Nissenbaum unraveled a pattern of unrest within the Salem village; giving an insight to the readers of the economic and social gap between two groups (people opposed to the pastor of the village and the people supporting the pastor). Their research provides us that the Salem Witch Trials was one of many issues revolving around the village of Massachusetts in 1692; even before 1692, there have been conflicts and growing tensions within the village.

According to Boyer and Nissenbaum, due to geographic and historic reasons, Salem Town and Salem Village was split. The mercantile town of Salem was situated on bottom and the agricultural village of Salem on top. The split between these two locations caused a split within the village; there existed the Putnam and Porter factions. The Putnam faction supported traditional agricultural activities within the village and therefore backed the local pastor (very independent). The Porter faction supported the mercantile town of Salem (hence living near the town) and therefore opposed the local pastor (the Porter faction wanted greater bond with the town; more progressive). With these two opposing groups built up tension and friction within the village. Without this knowledge, the Salem Witch Trials may sound absurd, but the fact that the authors gave a thorough background to the Salem history gives the trials more a moderate and reasonable understanding to how this came about.

During that time period, Salem village was also mentioned as the Salem farms, and