Superstition and witchcraft resulted in many being hanged or

in prison. In the seventeenth century, a belief in witches and

witchcraft was almost universal. In Salem Massachusetts

where the witch trials take place many people who are

suspicious is accused of witchcraft and hanged. Arthur

Miller wrote a play called The Crucible. It is based on the

Salem witch trials. The Salem witch trials change many

peoples lives and even led to death for some. The power of

superstition and hearsay can distort from the truth. Four

ministers of Salem joined Matther, and they spent a whole

day in the house of the afflicted in fasting and prayer. The

result of which was the delivery of one of the family from the

power of the witch. A niece and daughter of the parish

minister at Danvers were first afflicted. Their actions

frightened other young people, who soon showed the same

symptoms, such as loss of appetite and sickness. A belief

quickly spread over Salem and throughout the state that evil

spirits are being seen in Salem. Terror took possession of

the minds of nearly all the people, and the dread made the

affliction spread widely. "The afflicted, under the influence of

the witchery, "admitted to see the forms of their tormentors

with their inner vision" (Miller 1082). and would immediately

accuse some individual seen with the devil. At times the

afflicted and the accused became so numerous that no one

was safe from suspicion and its consequences. Even those

who were active in the prosecutions became objects of

suspicion. Revenge often impelled persons to accuse others

who were innocent and when some statement of the accused

would move the court and audience in favor of the prisoner.

"I saw Goody Osborn with the devil" (Miller 1060). The

accuser would declare that they saw the devil standing

beside the victim whispering the words in his or her ear. The

absurd statement would be believed by the judges. Some,

terrified and with the hope of saving their lives or avoiding

the horrors of imprisonment, would falsely accuse their

friends and relatives, while others moved by the same hopes,

would falsely confess themselves to be witches. Many of the

accusers and witnesses came forward and published denials

of the truth of their testimony, to save their own lives. Mr.

Paris in the Danver family, who was one of the most strong

prosecutors of alleged witches, was compelled to resign his

charge and leave the country. The acknowledgments of

error and pleadings for mercy, could not restore the spirits

of those who are hanged, nor make changes for the pains'

others had suffered. The trick had prevailed in greatest

desire more than six months, and it was not decreasing for

more than a year. During that time nineteen had been

hanged, and Corey Giles who is killed by the horrid process

of pressing to death with stones because he would say if was

guilty or innocent. He continued to say "more weight" (Miller

1113); until he died. In doing so, his family could keep his

land. Others had been tortured or frightened into a

confession of guilt or imprisoned. As one can see the power

of superstition and the hearsay can distort the truth. The

Salem witch trials were horrifying and it changes many

peoples lives. The belief in witches did not end with the

strange excitement. This strange episode in the history of

Massachusetts astonished the civilized world, and made an

unfavorable impression on others. WORK CITED Miller,

Arthur. The Crucible. Ellen Bowler. ed. et al. Literature the

American Experiance. Englewood cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1994.