Just kind of skimming through before doing the actual reading for class, one line caught my eye in particular. It was from the section Enchantments Encountered and it reads: "...there will come Times in after Ages, when the Clouds will over-shadow and darken the Sky there."
This reminds me of two things. First, there's the Biblical reference to the End of Days when the sun will turn black as sac-cloth and the rivers will run as blood (Revelations; the chapters and verses differ somewhat depending on what Bible you read). Second, there's a quote from a movie called "Stay Alive" - which is about Elizabeth Bathory... somewhat taken out of context. Well, taken out of context, actually. In the movie, she eats children whereas in real life she drained the blood of virgins. Anywho, the quote goes "Come to me, clouds. May you rise as an evil storm to rip them open. Let the cover of night bear witness and destroy those who resist so they shall harm me not. Let the blood of many cleanse me, preserving my beauty eternal, I pray you." (As quoted on IMDB.com - since I don't own the movie, it's the best I can do...)
I'm not too sure why the passage reminds me of either thing. I was quite excited when I looked at the reading list and saw Mather's *On Witchcraft* - although honestly, I had initalially gotten it confused with the *Malleus Maleficarm*, otherwise known as *The Hammer of Witches*. (Catholic girls should know Latin, after all... not really, but it makes understanding some things a ton easier.) I'd only read it once, but from what I remember of it, it was written about 200 years before *On Witchcraft*. The *Malleus Maleficarum* talks about different ways in which to spot and/or sniff out a supposed "witch". Anyhow, it became the "textbook" for witchhunters.
Now, due to mass hysteria during the Colonial period when America was first starting to be settled, I wonder if this guidebook for witchhunters was used during the witch trials? Mather uses his manuscript as a sort of justification for his involvment in the trials. Like most other people during the time, I'm sure Mather bought into the accusations of neighbors against neighbors just like everyone else. It would only make sense that he would use the handbook for witchhunters to track down and get rid of all the witches in the colonies, ne? Not that being a witch is bad, or anything. I have nothing against people who practice - just speaking in the voice. Honestly, what ticked me off about the Salem trials was that probably about half of the accusations were from spite, a quarter was somewhat true, and the rest were from girls who were taken over by spirits that gave them visions of those who practiced. What gets me then - why wouldn't the girls who did the accusing be then themselves accused for seeing these visions? Just a silly thought that popped into my head, ne?
This reminds me of two things. First, there's the Biblical reference to the End of Days when the sun will turn black as sac-cloth and the rivers will run as blood (Revelations; the chapters and verses differ somewhat depending on what Bible you read). Second, there's a quote from a movie called "Stay Alive" - which is about Elizabeth Bathory... somewhat taken out of context. Well, taken out of context, actually. In the movie, she eats children whereas in real life she drained the blood of virgins. Anywho, the quote goes "Come to me, clouds. May you rise as an evil storm to rip them open. Let the cover of night bear witness and destroy those who resist so they shall harm me not. Let the blood of many cleanse me, preserving my beauty eternal, I pray you." (As quoted on IMDB.com - since I don't own the movie, it's the best I can do...)
I'm not too sure why the passage reminds me of either thing. I was quite excited when I looked at the reading list and saw Mather's *On Witchcraft* - although honestly, I had initalially gotten it confused with the *Malleus Maleficarm*, otherwise known as *The Hammer of Witches*. (Catholic girls should know Latin, after all... not really, but it makes understanding some things a ton easier.) I'd only read it once, but from what I remember of it, it was written about 200 years before *On Witchcraft*. The *Malleus Maleficarum* talks about different ways in which to spot and/or sniff out a supposed "witch". Anyhow, it became the "textbook" for witchhunters.
Now, due to mass hysteria during the Colonial period when America was first starting to be settled, I wonder if this guidebook for witchhunters was used during the witch trials? Mather uses his manuscript as a sort of justification for his involvment in the trials. Like most other people during the time, I'm sure Mather bought into the accusations of neighbors against neighbors just like everyone else. It would only make sense that he would use the handbook for witchhunters to track down and get rid of all the witches in the colonies, ne? Not that being a witch is bad, or anything. I have nothing against people who practice - just speaking in the voice. Honestly, what ticked me off about the Salem trials was that probably about half of the accusations were from spite, a quarter was somewhat true, and the rest were from girls who were taken over by spirits that gave them visions of those who practiced. What gets me then - why wouldn't the girls who did the accusing be then themselves accused for seeing these visions? Just a silly thought that popped into my head, ne?
I think the reason the girls weren't accused was because they were still considered innocent and "savable" and therefore when they could identify other witches this was their way of cleansing themselves
ReplyDeletecool connections. :)