Witchcraft+And+Witch+Hunts



Witchcraft and Witch Hunts During Elizabethan Era

By Andrew Kesecker

The Elizabethan Era was a time that women were persecuted as witches for the unexplainable. Today women are more educated than in the Elizabethan Era.

Women were thrown in ponds to drown and some were brought in front of the church to swear for their good character. (Stewart 85) If any doubt the women were always punished in some manner. (Stewart 85) The witches were blamed for illnesses and accidents and then they were put to death. (Stewart 85) Many people believed that there was a difference in witches. (Andrew’s 167) They were classified as a good or white witch, which used their powers to help neighbors. (Andrew’s) The evil or black witches use their powers to harm human victims and increase the evil in the world. (Andrew’s 167) Witches were executed for any use of magic spells. (“Elizabethan Witchcraft and Witches”)

Laws were passed by Queen Elizabeth and when were executed they were hung not like the burning at the stake that was inflicted by the French and Spanish. (“ Elizabethan Witchcraft and Witches”) The Elizabethan witches were not tortured because Queen Elizabeth’s Mother Anne Boleyn was accused of being a witch because a sixth finger growing from her small fifth finger. (“Elizabethan Witchcraft and Witches”) Many felt she had leniency towards witches because of the allegations towards Queen Elizabeth’s mother.

Things have changed for the women in the world in our country and other countries women are not persecuted for being single, rich, or poor. Women suffered from the ignorance of man. Everyone needs to blame someone else for something that happens in his or her life. In the Elizabethan Era women were the reason for the unexplainable. In this Era we all need to accept that something’s are just unexplainable and no one is at fault.

Works Cited Andrews, John F., ed. //Shakespeare’s World and Work//. Vol. 3. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 2001. Print. “Elizabethan Witchcraft and Witches.” //Elizabethan Era//. N.p., 2010. Web. 15 Apr. 2010. //Interrogation by Torture of an Accused Witch//. N.d. //Case Study The European Witch Hunts 1450- 1750//. Web. 15 Apr. 2010. Stewart, Gail B. //Life in Elizabethan London//. San Diego: Lucent, 2003. Print.