Annotated Bibliography On Witchcraft

The text ‘The Daughters of England’, is a book written to provide guidance for young women, pertaining to their character and behaviour; the book creates the framework for the role of women in the household. It instructs that women must offer a virtuous influence on men - as wives, mothers, and daughters - as part of their role within society. Estimated to have been written in 1842, in London, ‘Daughters of England’ was penned by Sarah Stickney Ellis; a popular author of Victorian conduct literature. Ellis’ popularity implies that the source was widely circulated at the time, thus represents an important view of contemporary society. This document reveals to us the ideals expected of middle class women of the time, and the principles that were envisioned for them, relating in particular to the ‘separate spheres’ ideology.

The books thesis is based on why a person was accused of being a witch and the relative circumstances thereof. Marital status, sex, community standing, wealth, and relationships with others all play an important part of a person chances of being accused of being a witch.

It also depicts how family pressure plays a huge role in the decision of marriage, but love can also have its importance. The connection to family history from class is that women always have inferior roles compared to men in most places back in the 19th century. Female’s status in society always depended on her husband. During revolutionary period in France, many feminists tried to fight for new roles. This poses my historical question: During what time period are women in England allowed to own properties? And if they are allowed almost equal right as men, how far extend will the view of marriage

Ultio, is the Latin word for Revenge, which the witchcraft craze of the 1800’s was indirectly a result of. Richard Godbeer argues that women and men, alike, were accused of witchcraft by vengeful neighbors. These vengeful acts, however, were a direct result of tensions in and around the colonies. In a new land faced by harsh weather, disease, and war with neighboring Native American tribes, many colonists needed an escape, something they could easily control and defeat. Accusing neighbors of witchcraft, was not only an act of revenge, but a way for colonists to band together against a common enemy they could destroy. They essentially created a substitute for their fears and hatred.

more competence as an explanation due to evidence now being needed to prove someone guilty, there was still a aspect of psychological pressure towards obeying God and putting themselves forward for punishment in order to live a better afterlife.

Although Highbury was just a small population town, the particular social structure was reflecting this type of class structure about Britain. For instance, the love amongst Robert Martin and Harriet was not acceptable in Emma’s eyes. Robert Martin was a successful respectable farmer; Harriet is a friend of Emma and illegitimate of a tradesman nevertheless she received well cared and properly educated. So Emma couldn’t agree while Mr. Martin proposed marriage to Harriet, subsequently Emma Convinced Harriet to Refused to associate with Robert Martin. And try to match Harriet and Mr. Elton who was considered as higher rank of society status, young priest with record of great educating. In Emma describe of Mr. Martin “he may be the richest of the two, but he is undoubtedly her inferior as to rank in society.”(Emma, Chapter7, and p.33) it is clear that time, marriage most depended on and compromised with the values of their social status.

The value given to marriage in the 18th century is examined by Jane Austen in pride and prejudice. These values are further explored and evaluated by Letters to Alice. Pride and Prejudice shows the urgency and importance placed on marriage as a vehicle for getting wealth, social status, and a home for women of the 18th century. Letters to Alice brings new insight into the context surrounding the motives of marriage in Pride and Prejudice, whilst also providing insight into the marriages of Weldon’s own era. Charlotte Lucas is characterised as a woman not ‘thinking higher either of men or matrimony,’ but she still marries Mr Collins

Throughout history, gender roles have been an important barrier in society. Women are forced to satisfy expectations established by men and society. “My Last Duchess,” by Robert Browning, focuses on the powerful Duke establishing certain expectations of the Duchess, and attempting to control her. Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, concentrates on Laertes establishing certain expectations of Ophelia, and seeking to control her. A Room of One’s Own, by Virginia Woolf, centers on societal expectations of Judith, and her father trying to control her. In all three texts, men have the ability to control women and have the freedom to do as they please. Women must conform to the expectations of faithfulness, attentiveness, and chastity.

In these times many women would not be allowed to go to school and would have to manage the household of the family. However “women who come from wealthy and noble families were sometimes allowed the privilege of an education but were not welcome to attend universities but could still finish education, In these times Manners, Etiquette and dancing skills were of great importance.” Women at the time did not inherit anything from the family if there was a son, no matter the age or amount of women and men in the

"I'll get you my pretty, and your little dog too!" The Wicked Witch of the West...

Class and social structures changed frequently throughout the medieval period, the renaissance, and the eighteenth century, and this change caused much anxiety in preserving the noble class. During the medieval period, the three classes were challenged by the emergence of the merchant class which rose to the same level as the nobles during the renaissance. Finally, in the eighteenth century, this noble class was pushed out of power and then returned, throwing the class into turmoil. These changes caused anxiety not only within and between the classes, but also within the realm of courtship and gender roles. Although these changes seem unrelated, the intersectionality of class and gender and the anxiety about the rules of courtship appear often in the literature from these time periods and reflect the social changes occurring.

In the brief years of the Regency Era from 1811 to 1820, the social scheme was revolutionized by elegant balls, intermingling prominent families, and inevitable drama that spread quickly throughout the towns. Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice presents a rare fusing of two socially indecent girls and two wealthily distinguished young men that everyone in town would be talking about for months. Wealth is the most significant theme in this period, and Austen challenges it well with love as its rival. Through the character of Mr. Darcy, Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice tests the Regency notion of marriage and social classes in order to reveal that social hierarchies cannot overcome real love.

The Elizabethan age regarded women’s sexuality as a form of currency. In England’s social structure currency was a means to power. A woman’s virginity was something to be bargained for, and when the time was right, sold to the highest bidder. In modern day, this slightly resembles prostitution, but during Elizabethan times selling a daughter’s virginity was the quickest way up the social ladder. During this time, the sacrifice of virginity implies marriage. Young women rarely married on the idea of love alone, due to the father’s interests in finding an ideal husband that will strengthen the family’s position within the community. Author of Shakespeare’s Women, Angela Pitt states “if for some reason it was impractical for a girl to marry she was encouraged to enter a nunnery,” (15). English women were predominantly ignored outside of the matrimonial and spiritual world.

In the story, “No Witchcraft for Sale” by Doris Lessing, the main character, Gideon, is a servant for a white family, the Farquars. Gideon pushes cultural limitations, and Teddy, the Farquars’ little boy, and he build a close relationship. Gideon saves Teddy’s sight from snake poison, and when everyone asks him to give up the secret of the tribal medicine, he refuses, which causes tension between him and the Farquars. Gideon loses the trust of the Farquars, who believe he is making the wrong decision, but he still saves Teddy and contributes to everyone’s lives; making Gideon an anti-hero. Gideon tries to be a good person and help raise Teddy the best he can; however, when things don’t go the way he thinks they should, he shuts people out.

3 Messages from No Witchcraft for Sale No Witchcraft for Sale is yet another story dealing with the troubles of British Imperialism. A small British family lives in Zimbabwe where they own a farm. On the farm they have black servants, one of which they hold a special relationship with. One day the white family’s son is poisoned by a snake and is in danger of going blind.