Anahi Deloya
01 December 2023
Salem’s Bewitching History
In Bernard Rosenthal’s Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt, Susannah Martin, one of the
accused individuals said, “A false tongue will never make a guilty person.” The truth of this
statement is woven into our current justice system that believes that true guilt can only be
established with fair and thorough investigation, not accusations. Martin’s words were a result of
the unfair discrimination and manipulation of the truth that eventually resulted in her execution.
In this paper, we aim to explore the dark history and lasting impacts of being accused of a crime
of witchcraft that you did not commit - The Salem Witch trials that occurred between February
1692 and May 1693.
The year 1689 witnessed the arrival of Salem Village’s fourth minister, Samuel Parris,
alongside his wife Elizabeth Parris, daughter Elizabeth Parris, and niece Abigail Williams. The
Parris household’s relocation to Salem village occurred in the aftermath of a conflict that led to
the village’s separation from Salem Town. In service to the Parris family were the spouses Tituba
and John Indian, slaves from the West Indies (Karunakar, 9536). In 1992, under the care of
Tituba, the slave allegedly performed tricks and spells for the children, away from the presence
of their guardians. Abigail Williams grew excited about magic, along with her kids Ann Putnam,
Mary Walcott, Elizabeth Booth, and Susanna Sheldon. Driven by curiosity, the girls embarked on
fortune-telling to look for answers into their romantic future. However, it took a turn when they
spotted a coffin. Horrified, the children began their fits and nightmares, fearing for what they had
unveiled. Their parental guardians grew concerned. Dr. William Griggs quickly made his visit to
the Parris family where he diagnosed the girls to be trapped under a spell created by witchcraft
(Karunakar, 9537). Now terrified, the pastor gathered a meeting with the ministers of Salem and
began their process of questions. Their first victim was Sarah Good, a woman accused by
Abigail Williams. Abigail listed Sarah Osborne, Sarah Good, and Tituba Indian to be witches
(Karunakar, 9538).
On February 29, 1692, warrants were issued for the accused women, all three of whom
were then imprisoned. During the moments of chaos, Tituba confessed to having baked a
“witch’s cake” made from oatmeal and the afflicted girls urine and feeding it to the Parris’s dog
01 December 2023
Salem’s Bewitching History
In Bernard Rosenthal’s Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt, Susannah Martin, one of the
accused individuals said, “A false tongue will never make a guilty person.” The truth of this
statement is woven into our current justice system that believes that true guilt can only be
established with fair and thorough investigation, not accusations. Martin’s words were a result of
the unfair discrimination and manipulation of the truth that eventually resulted in her execution.
In this paper, we aim to explore the dark history and lasting impacts of being accused of a crime
of witchcraft that you did not commit - The Salem Witch trials that occurred between February
1692 and May 1693.
The year 1689 witnessed the arrival of Salem Village’s fourth minister, Samuel Parris,
alongside his wife Elizabeth Parris, daughter Elizabeth Parris, and niece Abigail Williams. The
Parris household’s relocation to Salem village occurred in the aftermath of a conflict that led to
the village’s separation from Salem Town. In service to the Parris family were the spouses Tituba
and John Indian, slaves from the West Indies (Karunakar, 9536). In 1992, under the care of
Tituba, the slave allegedly performed tricks and spells for the children, away from the presence
of their guardians. Abigail Williams grew excited about magic, along with her kids Ann Putnam,
Mary Walcott, Elizabeth Booth, and Susanna Sheldon. Driven by curiosity, the girls embarked on
fortune-telling to look for answers into their romantic future. However, it took a turn when they
spotted a coffin. Horrified, the children began their fits and nightmares, fearing for what they had
unveiled. Their parental guardians grew concerned. Dr. William Griggs quickly made his visit to
the Parris family where he diagnosed the girls to be trapped under a spell created by witchcraft
(Karunakar, 9537). Now terrified, the pastor gathered a meeting with the ministers of Salem and
began their process of questions. Their first victim was Sarah Good, a woman accused by
Abigail Williams. Abigail listed Sarah Osborne, Sarah Good, and Tituba Indian to be witches
(Karunakar, 9538).
On February 29, 1692, warrants were issued for the accused women, all three of whom
were then imprisoned. During the moments of chaos, Tituba confessed to having baked a
“witch’s cake” made from oatmeal and the afflicted girls urine and feeding it to the Parris’s dog
