Essay Sample on Witches and Witchcraft

Describe a typical witch in early modern Europe, what were her main attributes/characteristics? Give examples from the readings. (300 words)

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In Europe's historical books, the period between 1500 & 1650 was referred to as Witch Hunts. A considerable number of people up to 100,000 are alleged in a trial of committing witchcraft, and more than half got convicted of the practice of malice, a more significant number being women. It is unfortunate that despite the exercise occurring in a minimal timeline, so many people happened to develop an intense fear of witch hunts in society. Most of the prevailing conditions like social and economic problems, changes in the legal system, and religious contrast were a result of witchcraft. Most scholars could not stop researching and writing about malice, even in Europe, where witchcraft was never practiced.

Generally, a typical witch in modern Europe is an individual who has the power to perform supernatural activities, which is believed the ability to have come from the Devil's world intending to cause harm to either someone or something in some case death through un-explanatory means. Most scholars differ in the explanation though they have advanced with non-alleging witchcraft due to economic and geographical changes. In the centuries 15th, 16th, and 17th, witches were termed as wicked people who collaborated with the devil to have possession of magical powers to cause danger to other people (Levack, 2015).

Witch has uncanny means of causing harm. They are individuals who are feared due to their ability to create misfortune in the life of others. The act of witchcraft has made people believe some people have the power to blight others without their knowledge. In the Middle East and North America and some parts of Europe have the effect of malice as they speak mostly of "the evil eye."

Besides, witch has an aspect of instilling internal threats in a community. In Europe, people believe witchcraft was only practiced by someone known to you rather than strangers. It is an indication that witchcraft could not be used as a weapon between two rival communities (Roper, 2013). It occurs in a particular group of people who are allies to each other and significantly know each other.

What is the difference between black magic and white magic in late medieval and early modern Europe? How are they both connected to witchcraft? (300 words)

Magic is the ability to secretly in knowledge to possess power through polytheistic Deities, spirits, or ancestors in ancient pantheons. In most cases, they are spells that are uttered by sorcerers apprehended to gods, to fire, or even to grain production for productive farming. In early modern Europe, magic was exercised in both black and white magic.

There are numerous contrasts between black magic and white magic. White magic is traditionally understood to be used for selfless or helpful purposes. It is performed under circumstances that will benefit a larger society rather than a single person to the advantage of a large community. It is mostly performed among several people in broad daylight (Morgan, 2018). On the contrary, Black magic is used for selfish purposes, evil use, and harmful intentions. It could be to improve the well-being status or degrade another person of their success. In most cases, it's performed in secret as it's wrong.

The other contrast comes in where black magic is malicious. People who conduct this type of magic are happy when they see other people suffer with or without any benefitting attributes driving them. They are sadist in nature, and evil occurrence in their society brings them praise since the failure of their community is their responsibility (Boro, 2017). On the contrary, white magic is benevolent. Its performance is out of the goodwill to foresee demons revoked and peace restored in a community or individual.

In the late medieval, authorities placed a response of magic to have a religious opinion on them. Both White magic and black magic are having relations with witchcraft as they interact with spirits. White magic is witchcraft that aims to celebrate success or growth without questioning (Willis, 2018). It also answers to the underlying loss or death. On the contrary, black magic is a traditional witchcraft that aims at destruction, death, and scattering.

Explain who the Benandanti were and what they believed in (give specific examples). Why were they persecuted? Structure your answer. (500 words).

Benanti is a good walker, and member of the agrarian visionary tradition in Italy during the 16th & 17th Centuries. They are said to have emerged from their bodies in a deep sleep to struggle against evil witches to ensure that farm productivity is on a higher niche. During the witch trials period, 175-1675, a number of them were in accuse of heretics or rather witches of Roman Inquisition were by their beliefs are associated with Satanism.

This group of Benandati was believed to be a source of good luck in the community. Despite being children born with a caul or a piece of amniotic sac on their head, thus referred to as bad omen, they ensured to be a source of good in the community. In the night meet in the woods with witches as they practice evil Sabbath. There is a battle that will occur after a dance, fornicate, and define Christian images. In most cases, the Benandanti is led by a captain or an angel where battles with witches begin as they beat them up with flannel stalks. These forms of rites occurred before season four times in a year. Upon the victory of witches, the crops will wither, and children and animals die. In contrast, field productivity, the health of children, and rare storms were a result of the victory of the Benandanti (Kieckhefer, 2000).

The other strong feature the Benandanti has is the notion of having powers to cure people who have been bewitched as well as individuals who roam around at night with witches without knowing. This belief is not taken lightly by the church (Young, 2017). The Benandanti is summoned on their attendance to the Sabbath of the witches. They are not mandated to practice healing as they have gone out of the way and thus nee to confess of having participated in the witch Sabbath's evil practices. The church has deemed their belief as they could not attend church prayers or regular attendance of the church (Thomas, 2003). In particular, their chance to practice their abilities was shuttered. For instance, in the 16th century, an example of spirit travel emerged.

The Benandati are not embraced in Europe. They are facing challenges as their existence is challenged by both the commoners and the Christians. It is unfortunate as they have nowhere to belong. There are neither associates of the witch nor acceptable in the church as good fortunes. Some of their practices, like seeking benefits to treat sick children, make them experience doubts about what they stand for.

The Benandanti persecution came up gradually. Several decade’s inquisitorial activities later followed it. The Benandanti had the pressure to put into an end of their beliefs as it conflicted with churches beliefs terming them as activities of witchcraft (Keith, 1999). The original cult rituals had deemed to have an essence in the community due to the trust of a more natural way of handling problems. The persecution was firm as the emergence of dead walking did not appreciate the attributes of life and death cycles and individuals who have gone before them.

References

Boro, D., & Arackal, J. A. (2017). Interrelationship Between Black Magic and Witch-Hunting: A Case Study of Morigaon District, Assam (Doctoral dissertation, Lovely Professional University).

Keith, T. (1999). Religion and the Decline of Magic: studies in Popular Beliefs in Sixteenth and Seventeenth-Century England. Oxford University Press.

Kieckhefer, R. (2000). Magic in the Middle Ages. Cambridge University Press.

Levack, B. P. (2015). The witch-hunt in early modern Europe. Routledge.

Morgan-Consoli, M. L., & Unzueta, E. (2018). Female Mexican Immigrants in the United States: Cultural Knowledge and Healing. Women & Therapy, 41(1-2), 165-179.

Roper, L. (2013). Oedipus and the devil: witchcraft, religion, and sexuality in early modern Europe. Routledge.

Thomas, K. (2003). Religion and the decline of magic: studies in popular beliefs in sixteenth and seventeenth-century England. Penguin UK.

Willis, D. (2018). Malevolent nurture: witch-hunting and maternal power in Early Modern England. Cornell University Press.

Young, S., & Killick, H. (2017). An Analysis of Keith Thomas's Religion and the Decline of Magic. CRC Press.