"...sometimes like a hog, and sometimes like a great dog" - Tituba
Foreboding
1. The feeling of evil to come
2. A bad omen
A testimony that described the appearance of Satan
One of the most important factors that contributed to witch
hysteria in colonial Salem was the strong belief that Satan presided in the
area. This foreboding feeling started to arise in early January of 1692 when
three young children started to display bizarre behavior. The Salem community
worried for the children as the seizures, screams, and trance-like states
they displayed clearly was not normal. These perplexing actions had left
numerous doctors clueless, and convinced the townspeople that it was the doing
of the devil. Their paranoid conclusion inclined them to believe that witches,
people associated with Satan, resided among them. This drastic presumption
resulted in the colonists to speculate that those around them secretly practiced
witchcraft.
Unsettling Observations...
One disturbing observation in particular from the townspeople
was witnessing children being tortured. One of the woman accused of doing this
heinous act was Sarah Good. During the trial she repeatedly denied having any
connections with the Devil. However several witnesses, including the kids
themselves, testified otherwise. Just some of the things Good reportedly did
were Pinch and blind the children, practice witchcraft, and try to cut off
her own head. They had seen a witchcraft book with her name in it, and
observed her talking with the Devil. It was also reported that Good once
appeared to look like a werewolf, with hair covering her body. This was
significant because people during that century believed these creatures to be
servants of the Devil.
was witnessing children being tortured. One of the woman accused of doing this
heinous act was Sarah Good. During the trial she repeatedly denied having any
connections with the Devil. However several witnesses, including the kids
themselves, testified otherwise. Just some of the things Good reportedly did
were Pinch and blind the children, practice witchcraft, and try to cut off
her own head. They had seen a witchcraft book with her name in it, and
observed her talking with the Devil. It was also reported that Good once
appeared to look like a werewolf, with hair covering her body. This was
significant because people during that century believed these creatures to be
servants of the Devil.
Seeing Evil...
Others accused of being involved with the forbid practice
testified their side, some even confessed to seeing the devil. For example,
Mary Toothaker and Mary Osgood both described him as black man with a book.
Both also claimed he was their God, and consented to serving him. Additional
townspeople also made accounts regarding their sighting of the devil. Perhaps
one of the most famous quotes of quotes was from a foreign slave named Tituba. She
had described him in a rather odd way saying, "sometimes like a hog and
sometimes like a great dog". He also attested that that a conspiracy of
witches permeated Salem Village. These gathered statements were unsettling to
the court, and persuaded those around that the devil imposed his way into
Salem.
testified their side, some even confessed to seeing the devil. For example,
Mary Toothaker and Mary Osgood both described him as black man with a book.
Both also claimed he was their God, and consented to serving him. Additional
townspeople also made accounts regarding their sighting of the devil. Perhaps
one of the most famous quotes of quotes was from a foreign slave named Tituba. She
had described him in a rather odd way saying, "sometimes like a hog and
sometimes like a great dog". He also attested that that a conspiracy of
witches permeated Salem Village. These gathered statements were unsettling to
the court, and persuaded those around that the devil imposed his way into
Salem.