Oooo, Oooo, Witchy Woman
I was a senior in high school when I became aware of the witch panic in 17th Century New England. That year, I researched the phenomenon and wrote my English term paper on the subject. Since then, I have been obsessed with that time and place in American history.
Chris Bohjalian's novel Hour of the Witch shows just how dangerous it was to be a woman in the "New World" in the sixteen hundreds. Women had few choices: marry or become a burden. That was about it. A husband had complete control over his wife. He was, in effect, not her partner but her master. The patriarchs that ran the country mixed their own cruel and demented interpretations of Christianity with their harsh form of government to make me wonder why anybody would want to risk the long and dangerous Atlantic crossing to become a resident of this wild continent.
The main character in this book, 24-year-old Mary Deerfield, has been married to her violent 45-year-old husband Thomas for five years. Mary has failed to give Thomas any children. That right there is enough to cast suspicions upon the young woman. A barren woman in that day and place was less valuable than the livestock. In the Deerfield household at least, she was good for nothing much but making sure her husband is fed and serving as his punching bag when he needs an outlet for his emotions. Over the years, Mary has become quite familiar with the feel of Thomas's fist slamming into her face.
When Thomas comes home drunk (as usual) one night and stabs a three-pronged fork (the devil's tines) into Mary's hand, she decides she can take no more. She petitioned the all-male, Bible-based court for divorce. Divorce was rare in 17-century Massachusetts, but it did happen. A husband was never to strike his wife--except, of course, when she "provoked" him.
Because some of you might want to read this book, I'll go no further with spoilers. It's a little over 400 pages, but I read it in a couple of sittings. My emotions ranged from anger to disgust to horror to sadness to joy. Some of the same feelings that I have today, seeing evidence that there are those in this land who would gladly return to a form of government where only the elite male christian (note: a self-serving, purely fictional form of christianity) population is qualified to make the rules and enforce them.
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On 05/09/2021, Nicole Reed said ...
I just ordered this one too!
On 05/09/2021, Barbara Anne said ...
I remember the song but think I'll skip the book. You and Nicole can discuss it amongst yourselves and I'll sit it out. :)
Hugs!
On 05/10/2021, Sue, a Florida Farm Girl said ...
I'll pass on the book but I know what you mean and its frightening.
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