This blog will discuss the possible causes of the hysteria relating to the Salem witch trials and the fuel that kept it going. If you would kindly leave your comments and/or your opinions on any of the theories and ideas I write, it would be greatly appreciated! Please keep in mind, this is based on my research report, not my personal ideas.
If you are new to the Salem witch trials you can refer to this power point I made on its history: http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B5t2rG6mf9FNNzgxOGIwNTktYzI1Mi00OTMzLTliZTctNGZmN2EwMTZiMGYx&hl=en
Causes:
- Theories as to what triggered the hysteria in Salem have been offered by Linda Caporael, Laurie Winn Carlson, and George W. Hudler to name a few. Caporael suggests ergot was the cause for the hunt. This is a poisonous fungus that can grow on rye, which was used to make bread. It was also the main crop at the time, so this is possible. The symptoms include delusions, involuntary movement of the body, hallucinations, and sometimes death. All of which coincide with the symptoms of the "victims".
- Laurie Winn Carlson, however, disagrees with Caporael. She proposes the idea of a disease called encephalitis, a swelling of the brain brought on by a virus carried by mosquitoes. Carlson argues that the ergot fungus arises when there is a lack of vitamin A in a diet, yet the society thrived on milk and seafood.
- George W. Hudler puts forward a combination of the two former theories. He says, "I buy parts of [the ergot theory]. I think that the symptoms of ergot poisoning could have initiated the episode. At the same time, I think some adolescent hysteria probably fed on some of those episodes too."
Fuel:
- The Salem community was strictly Puritan when it originated. Their belief consisted of God's supreme authority over human affairs. Whenever something went wrong, such as illness or death, a sin must have been committed (in their mind-set). If the witches were the cause of their misfortune, it contradicted their belief. Does God not care enough to give the people a warning of their bad decisions before consequences are met? This theory isn't generally accepted, because why would Puritans start to think of misfortune as a sign of witchcraft, rather than a sign from God?
- Or, was the witch hunt embraced by Puritans because it was a sign from God to return to their previously strict way life? This would mean that instead of the trials being a main event, it was part of a greater purpose. Witches were then not the ones inflicting adversity, but rather an aspect of it.
