The Truth Behind The Crucible
The Crucible
Everyone knows some form of this story, but what is the true
story? The story we all know is that Abigail Williams claimed she was under
witchcraft spells and the devils grip, and went on to accuse many women in
Salem of being a witch. Was she actually under the power of a witch or was an
act to gain power or was it in the food they were eating? Even though the
setting of the story is set in a theocratic society, Abigail is wanting to go
against the town’s belief system for many years. Not only does the Crucible
bring about witchcraft, it also brings out another element of hysteria. The
hysteria of the upstanding people in their town committing absurd crimes while
communing with the devil. In the end of the Crucible John Proctor is killed
while Abigail Williams and the other girls are innocent and are treated for
their conditions.
Where the does the truth lie though? In Recent reviews of
the actual Salem Witch Trials, there seems to be another blame for this
hysteria. Not that it is real witchcraft, but it is from a fungus on the rye
they eat. The ergot from the rye is similar to that of the LSD in the world
today. Ironic, isn’t it? A fungus that makes a whole town go crazy over something
that cannot be scientifically or medically proven. Is the rye to blame for this
instance of witchcraft? That is for you to decide.
Feel free to comment your opinion below.
-Tim Mitchell
There are some doctors who prescribe to the LSD/tainted rye theory: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/article-abstract/2522008?redirect=true
ReplyDeleteBut then there are those who have completely discredited the theory, claiming that the afflicted children/townspeople did not display all they symptoms that accompany convulsive ergotism: https://salemwitchtrialsresearch.wordpress.com/2015/01/04/a-common-misconception-the-ergot-theory-and-the-salem-witch-trials/
Ultimately, I would put this one down as an interesting theory, but one that does not have enough hard evidence to prove it yet (but it could be possible). Good post.