Thursday, October 31, 2013

The Afflicted

As a creative nonfiction story about the Salem Witch Trials I would like to do it as the perspective of either one of the afflicted girls, like Betty Parris, or one of the accused witches like Tituba. 
Photograph of the home of Samuel Parris, "The House Where Witchcraft Started", published in "Witchcraft Illustrated" by Henrietta D. Kimball in 1892
It was winter in the year 1961; Betty Parris was sitting in the family kitchen with her orphaned cousin Abigail Williams. Her father, Samuel Parris was busy working on sermons for that Sunday. He was the new Pastor for Salem, Massachusetts. With many wifely tasks, Betty’s mother was often away so she and Abigail spent many nights in that kitchen. The girls had been curious about their future. Tituba, originally from Barbados decided to teach the girls a few tricks. It all started out as harmless fun. With the instruction of Tituba the girls started performing things like the “Venus glass”.  They would have a glass of water and then drop an egg inside and wait for a symbol to appear. This symbol would tell them about the future husbands and what not. They would continue for weeks playing games of fortune telling with Tituba.

After many weeks of hearing her father talk about how the whole town was against him, and wanted to kick him out Betty became ill. Soon after her cousin Abigail and other girls who had joined those in the kitchen also became ill. Many doctors came from all over to try and diagnose the girls. None were successful until the day one claimed that they were cursed by a witch. The girls were then questioned numerous times about who the evil woman was who did this to them. At first no names were said but after a while the adults started suggesting people. The girls then ended up pointing their fingers at Tituba. Tituba did have a history of performing witch craft but confessed to never wanting to harm the girls.
 

I think there are a couple of different stories in the Salem Witch Trials that I can have come to life with a creative piece. It’s just a matter of picking one. 

1 comment:

  1. You're right, there are several stories that could be told! Great ideas.

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