MAGICAL RITUAL SOCIOLOGICALLY

Magical Ritual Sociologically

Magical Ritual Sociologically

Introduction

"See! See! The Devil is here in Salem Village. His familiars--the dogs, the cats--work for this [witch], pinching and harassing your children (Lasky 70)." It was about 300 years ago that spoken words such as those defined a capital crime in early American history. Witchcraft as we know it today was once shrouded in mystery. If it had any power so long ago, then fear and uncertainty were the sources. The industrialized, scientific age would argue that such beliefs should not exist in today's world. On the contrary, the intrigue and social dynamic that surrounds it allows it to thrive among the intellectual community in Western society. However, the best way to explain the witchcraft phenomena is not through spells and magic, but through social and psychological aspects that develop the craft, practice, and belief.

        Thus, traveling back to the winter of 1692, in Salem, Massachusetts, a small group of girls began to have a set of described "fits". Before laying out the framework of the events that followed, it is important to outline the social dynamic of Salem Village at the time. The village was founded by Puritans from England seeking religious freedom from the Anglican Church in the New World. The very name Puritan meant that they intended to purify the Church and that meant holding the Bible in very high esteem to its exact words. This set the tone for not just religious, but also government affairs (Priest).

Discussion

Environmentally, Salem experienced harsh winters that brought much hardship, such as illness and death. Native inhabitants were also a factor in the death count. Angered that the new settlers unjustly claimed the land and caused harm to their people, they retaliated and attacked villagers in their homes. As if the illness, cold, and struggle to survive were not enough, now entire families could be wiped out in a single raid. Unfortunately, small children that were able to hide or managed to escape while their family defended them were left as orphans with what we now know as Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, which is due to witnessing or experiencing an extremely traumatic event. Combined with the strict religious teachings, it is easy to see why young children might go crazy in a place like Salem. Especially, when they were taught how quickly evil could take over their lives ("Witch Hunt").

So, the physical and the spiritual worlds were both places of fear, and death was imminent from both sides. What better way to escape than to throw a fit! From a behaviorist's point of view it is easy to see why the girls did not just do it once or just whenever they felt like it. After the first round of fits, concerned adults in the community questioned them and pleaded with them to tell what was happening to them. The more fits, the more attention the girls received, so the cycle continued. Finally forced to name names, the girls shouted out the most likely ...