WARNING: I Could Be A Witch

I occasionally wonder whether I would be accused of witchcraft if I had lived in Salem during the infamous trials (or if those same “markers” of witchcraft were applied today). Our reading and discussion for last week cemented my answer: Yes. 

The first reason is obvious. I’m a woman. We’ve talked various times about the ways the witchhunts were gendered, and we know that a majority of the accused were women. Of course, a highly patriarchal society was the root of this issue, as we have learned. Our book says that early convictions “were part of an increasingly misogynistic view of women as either chaste and saintly paragons in courtly romance or evil seductresses using sex to cheat and exploit men” (116) (for more thoughts on this dichotomy, read my Daughters of Eve post). A similar sexist stance can be seen in Kramer’s Malleus Maleficarum, which depicts women as highly susceptible to evil. 

Not only am I a woman, but I’m a woman against patriarchy; the second reason I would be accused is that I’m a Women and Gender Studies major, which clearly places me in opposition to a patriarchal order. Additionally, I’m pretty vocal about my feminist views (and I can get pretty heated at times), whether that’s on social media, in conversation, or at marches. If we look at the example of Martha Carrier, it seems clear that women were accused largely because they argued with neighbors, spoke their minds, and challenged gender expectations.

Though it has not been mentioned in our class or readings, I also want to quickly point out the historical association of red hair with evil and witchcraft. I’m not sure this played a role in the Salem trials, but I’ve read of women in other areas being suspected of witchcraft because of their red hair, and I could be accused for the same reason.  

Another physical trait that marked witches was the “witch's teat.” While I certainly do not have one of those, I do have a round birthmark on my thigh, which I’m sure accusers would consider a mark of the Devil or “a sign of evil magic” (187). 

Of course, I also have a familiar– a cat. My family has three cats, so that alone could be an indicator, but I have a special bond with one. Bella is my cat, and when I’m home, we spend all of our time together (He’s named after actor Bela Lugosi who played the first Dracula, which isn’t exactly witchy, but it’s a similar vibe). I’m definitely a cat person, so knowing that they’re the “most commonly reported witch’s familiar” (187) excites me, and I always love seeing the cats depicted with witches in media today. 

I leave you with a picture of me summoning snow with my familiar, Bella.