"Uncle, we did dance; let you tell them I confessed it-and I'll Be whipped if I must be. But they're speakin' of witchcraft. Betty's not witched".
So, could this be a another England such as the England Oliver Cromwell ruled. Cromwell banned all singing, dancing, and nearly all enjoyment. Witchcraft is considered dancing? As we progress Parris states that "abominations are done in the forest" thus one can conclude that most witchcraft was done in the forest. Therefore, as the story progresses readers will soon discover that all enjoyment is considered witchcraft. Any thoughts on what may come?
That's an interesting way to look at it. I thought they weren't allowed to dance because they lived in a Puritan community. I can see where you are coming from though, dancing could be correlated with witches especially since Parris saw someone naked. Naked dancing was definitely in there with witch activities.
ReplyDeleteYeah definitely agreeing with Pamela on this one, naked girls dancing in the forest doesn't seem like a holy act to me. The thing is I think the puritans thought "what ever you wouldn't do in church, don't do it in public" and that's probably why they were called witches in the first place.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great way of looking at it. I never thought of it that way, but that is a perfect correlation.
DeleteThis story is about Salem, which is in New England, or on the east coast of America. The reason this is so much like England under Oliver Cromwell's rule, is because Cromwell was puritan. However, after Cromwell fell, the Puritans fell under scrutiny and escaped to the new found land or America. You are right in saying that anything which causes enjoyment is considered sin. Because the Puritans had a much more somber and strict view on religion. We are natural born sinners in their eyes, and the only hope of salvation is to dedicate your entire life to god. Therefore, anything done for personal gain or enjoyment was looked down on.
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