Puritan Superstition: The Pact Between Satan and Native Americans
Throughout the history of the United States, there is a common link between European colonialism and the death and destruction of Native American populations. Salem was no different. Once the Native American land known as “Naumkeag,” Salem was colonized by Puritans whose no nonsense agendas and devilish superstitions cast Indians as evil witches and wizards. The shadow of Satan eclipsed the lives of the Puritans, who soon grew afraid of the “lawlessness” of the Indians who lived in the forests home to the devil. Native Americans, in this way, began to embody evil, as Puritan superstition claimed that they made a pact with Satan. Prejudice effected Native people beyond the settlement of Salem, though all the same, the city's foundation was built on intolerance and fears regarding native peoples.
While Salem was originally Native American land, it was not long after arrival that Puritans started staking claims to land, which they believed were vacant or not given their proper use. Despite some trading, most Indian-Puritan relations were damning for the Native Americans, who suffered not only copious amounts of disease, but also English raids and warfare. Of the most damaging skirmishes to Native Americans would be King Phillip's War, the “last major effort by the Indians of southern New England to drive out the English settlers” ("King Philip’s War"). In this war, Native Americans were pitted against the English and even other Native Americans, who wished for either the protection or the good graces of the colonists. The Wampanoag, Nipmucks, Pocumtucks, and Narragansetts banded together in retaliation of increasing dependency of English goods, “while the Mohegan, Pequot, Massachusetts, and Nauset Indians, sided with the English.” While the war only lasted from 1675 to 1676, the results were terrible for Native Americans. Those who sided against the English faced slavery, death, disease and cultural destruction. The English victory was said to be due to God's favor of the Puritans, whose society condemned that misfortune was a result of sin. As such, the native peoples became outsiders in lands that were once their own. Many who did not yield to English interference turned to find land elsewhere, pushing themselves away from the bustling city and village. Out of sight, Puritans would have no clue what went on in the night's darkness. These unseen natives were like beacons of sin, especially with their heavy belief in spirits, and thus were thought to have a life devoted to worshiping Satan.
While Salem was originally Native American land, it was not long after arrival that Puritans started staking claims to land, which they believed were vacant or not given their proper use. Despite some trading, most Indian-Puritan relations were damning for the Native Americans, who suffered not only copious amounts of disease, but also English raids and warfare. Of the most damaging skirmishes to Native Americans would be King Phillip's War, the “last major effort by the Indians of southern New England to drive out the English settlers” ("King Philip’s War"). In this war, Native Americans were pitted against the English and even other Native Americans, who wished for either the protection or the good graces of the colonists. The Wampanoag, Nipmucks, Pocumtucks, and Narragansetts banded together in retaliation of increasing dependency of English goods, “while the Mohegan, Pequot, Massachusetts, and Nauset Indians, sided with the English.” While the war only lasted from 1675 to 1676, the results were terrible for Native Americans. Those who sided against the English faced slavery, death, disease and cultural destruction. The English victory was said to be due to God's favor of the Puritans, whose society condemned that misfortune was a result of sin. As such, the native peoples became outsiders in lands that were once their own. Many who did not yield to English interference turned to find land elsewhere, pushing themselves away from the bustling city and village. Out of sight, Puritans would have no clue what went on in the night's darkness. These unseen natives were like beacons of sin, especially with their heavy belief in spirits, and thus were thought to have a life devoted to worshiping Satan.
The Native Americans were very spiritual and those around Salem village were no different. They believed in magic, as well as good and evil spirits alike. Some were trained to be powwows or shaman, and medicine-men used incantations in an attempt to drive away evil spirits from a sick individual. Cotton Mather, a Puritan minister, claimed that some “of the Algonquins were trained from boyhood as powahs, powwows, or wizards, acquiring powers of second sight and communion with gods and spirits through abstinence from food and sleep and the observance of rites” (Skinner). Such sacred Native American rituals were viewed in fear by Puritan settlers. In Salem lore, Indians were said to be the “limbs of Satan” ("Origins"). Due to this, it is no wonder Native Americans were viewed with suspicion and treated less than human.
Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story “Young Goodman Brown” from his book Mosses from an Old Manse, illustrates the Puritan view of Native Americans perfectly. Indian powwows and their devilry is brought up many times, as Goodman Brown fearfully stumbles through the woods. “'There may be a devilish Indian behind every tree,' said Goodman Brown to himself” escalates into more aggressive phrasing, such as “'let us hear which will laugh loudest! Think not to frighten me with your deviltry! Come witch, come wizard, come Indian powwow, come devil himself!'” (Hawthorne). Each time some sort of evil act is mentioned, Indians also seem to be related. One man walking along the road who sounded like the deacon of Salem said, “besides several of the Indian powwows, who, after their fashion, know almost as much deviltry as the best of us" in reference to the ghastly ritual Goodman Brown will run into (Hawthorne). In this manner, Indians become part of the source of the witchcraft that takes place in the woods.
Even further into Hawthorne's tale, the yell of Indians is compared in conjunction with the howling of wild animals. When Goodman Brown comes upon the nighttime ritual, he describes that “there were men of dissolute lives and women of spotted fame, wretches given over to all mean and filthy vice, and suspected even of horrid crimes. Scattered, also...were the Indian priests...who had often scared their native forest with more hideous incantations than any known to English witchcraft” (Hawthorne). Through this description, we can come to understand just how detested Native Americans were. In this story they are consorting with those who have committed dastardly crimes. Their sacred rituals are described as hideous. This shows just how little respect the Puritans had for someone as powerful as a Native American priest. While this is a short story, it embodies the vivid imagination and fears of the early Puritans. When night fell and there was no electricity to light up the dark, imaginations grew wild. People imagined such images of fiendish powwows performing Satanic rituals. Instead of trying to understand the actions of Indians, they condemned them. As such, baseless fears such as this became a pillar of Puritan superstitions.
Overall, the Puritans were incredibly superstitious, especially when it came to Native Americans. Viewing themselves as God's chosen people, they exhibited a radical intolerance to those who had already inhabited America. If they were the chosen ones and the Indians made life more difficult for them, then Natives must have been sinners who worshiped the “black man” Satan. Fearing magic and all forms of the occult, sacred Native American traditions were condemned as evil. Indian priests became another wild animal in the forest, a new creature that went bump in the night. The fear of the English settlers clouded and concealed the true native culture that was suppressed in both Salem and settlements across the United States. Salem was built on the blood and prejudice of Native Americans, and Puritan superstition was another blade that bled the Indian.
The main reason I chose to focus on this particular myth is because this form of intolerance is something I don't want to be forgotten. Yes, Salem has amazing qualities. Yes, it is one of the most accepting places I have come to know. It was the leading place of education, civil rights and equality. Slaves were freed far before the civil war was even a possibility. Women went to school. Yet, all the same, Salem was built on intolerance beyond the handful of people killed during the Witch Trials. Before Puritans lashed out at each other, Native Americans were the victims. Despite all the fantastic qualities Salem has, this is one instance in which it failed. I think of such things a lot during the holidays (especially Thanksgiving). The first colonists are always pictured getting along with the Native Americans, while the rest of the history is swept under the rug. It is unfortunate that the Puritans feared and loathed the Indians enough to refer to them as the devil's supporters. It is even more unfortunate that this dehumanization lead to the death of millions of Native Americans beyond the borders of intolerant Salem.
Works Cited
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. "Young Goodman Brown." Mosses from an Old Manse. Mankato, MN: Creative Education, 1993. N. pag.
Eldritch Press. Creative Commons. Web. 6 Dec. 2015. <http://www.eldritchpress.org/nh/ygb.html>.
"King Philip’s War." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2015. <http://www.history.com/topics/
native-american-history/king-philips-war>.
"Origins." Notes on Puritanism. College of the Reddwoods, n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2015. <http://www.redwoods.edu/Instruct/JJohnston
/English8/crucible/puritanismandcruciblenotes.ht m>.
Skinner, Charles M. "Salem And Other Witchcraft." Sacred Texts. Evinity Publishing INC, n.d. Web. <http://www.sacred-texts.com
/ame/lol/lol104.htm>.
Eldritch Press. Creative Commons. Web. 6 Dec. 2015. <http://www.eldritchpress.org/nh/ygb.html>.
"King Philip’s War." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2015. <http://www.history.com/topics/
native-american-history/king-philips-war>.
"Origins." Notes on Puritanism. College of the Reddwoods, n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2015. <http://www.redwoods.edu/Instruct/JJohnston
/English8/crucible/puritanismandcruciblenotes.ht m>.
Skinner, Charles M. "Salem And Other Witchcraft." Sacred Texts. Evinity Publishing INC, n.d. Web. <http://www.sacred-texts.com
/ame/lol/lol104.htm>.
Iconic Experience: Halloween in Salem
This year I spent my Halloween in downtown Salem with a handful of friends. After commuting the whole month of October and all but getting into fistfights with hordes of tourists jumping in front of every available crosswalk, I certainly expected a large crowd on Halloween. Knowing this, I was still unprepared the sheer size of the swarm of children, drunken adults, high teenagers and angry religious protesters. It was incredible. Downtown was filled shop to shop with writhing human bodies trying to pass one another and continue on their way. It felt like I was in one of those salmon runs I see on the National Geographic Channel. Even as a self-proclaimed, excellent crowd-weaver, I had difficulty navigating through the sea of people. I cannot even count the number of times I was slammed into and almost sent flying.
Nonetheless, I had a wonderful time. I was dressed in a giant squirrel costume, and much to my vain delight, I attracted quite a bit of attention (the most out of my group of friends). Armed with two nuts and a tail about the same size as myself, I was ready to strut the Halloween red carpet. Wherever I went, I was stopped by a person who would ask for a picture. This would turn into about ten more as tourists and Halloween-buffs alike also stopped to snap a picture of my hunky squirrel self. There were countless others who took photos without permission, much to the chagrin of my companions. My friends and I are cosplayers and often go to conventions, which have a set of social rules and norms that one should follow. One of these rules is to always ask before taking a picture. Even if I said yes to others, it is always polite to ask yourself. Carrying these rules to the hectic downtown Salem area, my friends were not pleased to see people taking unauthorized pictures of me, and would warn me whenever they spotted one of these hidden paparazzi. I can't say I minded all that much, though. I felt like a movie star, and every time my friend pointed to a person, I would turn and smile into their camera. It startled quite a few people, which was also very satisfying.
By the end of the night, I was absolutely exhausted. My friends were also wilting from the surprising amount of energy it took just to maneuver downtown Salem. We went to Dunkin' Donuts three times, and by the end of the night I was so desperate to stay awake that I actually ordered an espresso shot in my hot chocolate. It didn't help in the least. Out of steam, we sat down much of the evening hours under a tiny tree surrounded by shops. Before we left, I even found someone with the same costume as me! It was hilarious! I also took a variety of photos hugging trees, which were comedic gold. Despite being so close to Salem, I never spent any of my Halloweens in it. While the experience was very unique, the ride home was not very fun. The traffic was hideous, if I had to put it lightly. Perhaps I will seek a more peaceful Halloween next year.
Nonetheless, I had a wonderful time. I was dressed in a giant squirrel costume, and much to my vain delight, I attracted quite a bit of attention (the most out of my group of friends). Armed with two nuts and a tail about the same size as myself, I was ready to strut the Halloween red carpet. Wherever I went, I was stopped by a person who would ask for a picture. This would turn into about ten more as tourists and Halloween-buffs alike also stopped to snap a picture of my hunky squirrel self. There were countless others who took photos without permission, much to the chagrin of my companions. My friends and I are cosplayers and often go to conventions, which have a set of social rules and norms that one should follow. One of these rules is to always ask before taking a picture. Even if I said yes to others, it is always polite to ask yourself. Carrying these rules to the hectic downtown Salem area, my friends were not pleased to see people taking unauthorized pictures of me, and would warn me whenever they spotted one of these hidden paparazzi. I can't say I minded all that much, though. I felt like a movie star, and every time my friend pointed to a person, I would turn and smile into their camera. It startled quite a few people, which was also very satisfying.
By the end of the night, I was absolutely exhausted. My friends were also wilting from the surprising amount of energy it took just to maneuver downtown Salem. We went to Dunkin' Donuts three times, and by the end of the night I was so desperate to stay awake that I actually ordered an espresso shot in my hot chocolate. It didn't help in the least. Out of steam, we sat down much of the evening hours under a tiny tree surrounded by shops. Before we left, I even found someone with the same costume as me! It was hilarious! I also took a variety of photos hugging trees, which were comedic gold. Despite being so close to Salem, I never spent any of my Halloweens in it. While the experience was very unique, the ride home was not very fun. The traffic was hideous, if I had to put it lightly. Perhaps I will seek a more peaceful Halloween next year.
The Witchcraft and Ghost Experience
I went to the Gallows Hill Witchcraft and Ghost Experience on Thursday, October 22nd for my event. It was located in a pleasantly small theater and was only about thirty minutes long. The outside of the theater was decorated to appeal to a tourist's sense of “witchy.” In essence, there was an unnecessary disfigured old witch with a long nose and ashen skin. She stood next to a hearth adorned with occult items, including a crystal ball and a bird skeleton. Next to the hearth lay a plain wooden table and a Ouija board. This small room was where Gallows Hill t-shirts were sold. In an adjacent room lay a life-sized figure of a male puritan in clothing black as night. He stood next to two wooden barrels, above which lay a long wooden branch adorned with a noose. Peppered along the walls were various plaques and posters telling tales of superstition and myth. Across one wall were the main contenders of the witch trials, such as Abigail Williams, along with a modern picture of what they may have looked like. Overall, the outside area of the theater was interesting and certainly grabbed my attention as I waited for the next show to start.
When it was time for the show to begin, I was lead into a dark room with dim purple and orange lights. There were folding chairs in front of the stage, along with a few church-like benches dotting the back wall. I sat down right in front of the stage, so I was able to see everything happen up close, making the jump scares a bit more impressionable. The decorations up on stage, an old clock adorning an old building with a small cauldron and rocking chair really set an eerie mood. To my disappointment, I was told to put away my camera so I couldn't take pictures when the show actually started. The show talked about various myths and legends surrounding witchcraft in New England. In one instance, the show talked about Dog Town, which was an area just outside Gloucester. This place was said to be home to various witches and their vicious stray dogs. The various tales were interesting to listen to, although a bit childish at some points. There were lots of different witch costumes, all which basically looked like disfigured old women with long noses. There were a few men, too. I guess it would appeal to a tourist. I did enjoy the small bit of Native American folklore present in the show, though. At one point the narrator talked about a monster the Native Americans thought lurked in the forest at night, the “Abamacho.” It was this eerie monster with glowing red eyes and large, razor sharp claws. It was a very nice and an astonishingly elaborate costume if I do say so myself.
The show was a little lame and lacked the good scare it advertized, but the special effects were very nice. At one point bubbles started falling from the ceiling. A black light lit them up, and when they popped, they left speckles of residue that almost looked like paint splatter in the dark. Luckily, it did not leave any visible marks on clothing when the black light was turned off. In addition to this, the show used quite a bit of stage fog, which I personally love. The rocking chair up on stage also moved by itself. For such a small performance, its special effects were on par, if not a little better than a good high school play performed with quite a bit of dedication.
Overall, I didn't have too bad of a time. It was nice getting out. Unfortunately the tickets were $12.00 for adults and $8.00 for children when I went, but the show was not horrible. It was a bit childish and the advertizing claimed it to be much more thrilling and horrifying than it truly was. They often yelled suddenly, creating jump scares, but that's about it. I was a bit disappointed, but it was a 30 minute show designed to take money from tourists, so I didn't expect all that much. I was shocked to find out the whole show was acted out by only two people. I can truly commend the dedication of these people. They both took to the stage once the show was over and offered to answer any questions about either the show, or Salem's history. They were patient and answered each question with a rather profound amount of knowledge. Overall, however, I wouldn't recommend the show to many people, unless they're either a child or a tourist. I think a child would enjoy the eerie and mysterious atmosphere, and at this point, I'm pretty sure tourists will by into anything. I would definitely call this show a “tourist trap.” It was good for the resources the theater had, but it was a quick money maker on people craving a “scary” experience in Salem.
When it was time for the show to begin, I was lead into a dark room with dim purple and orange lights. There were folding chairs in front of the stage, along with a few church-like benches dotting the back wall. I sat down right in front of the stage, so I was able to see everything happen up close, making the jump scares a bit more impressionable. The decorations up on stage, an old clock adorning an old building with a small cauldron and rocking chair really set an eerie mood. To my disappointment, I was told to put away my camera so I couldn't take pictures when the show actually started. The show talked about various myths and legends surrounding witchcraft in New England. In one instance, the show talked about Dog Town, which was an area just outside Gloucester. This place was said to be home to various witches and their vicious stray dogs. The various tales were interesting to listen to, although a bit childish at some points. There were lots of different witch costumes, all which basically looked like disfigured old women with long noses. There were a few men, too. I guess it would appeal to a tourist. I did enjoy the small bit of Native American folklore present in the show, though. At one point the narrator talked about a monster the Native Americans thought lurked in the forest at night, the “Abamacho.” It was this eerie monster with glowing red eyes and large, razor sharp claws. It was a very nice and an astonishingly elaborate costume if I do say so myself.
The show was a little lame and lacked the good scare it advertized, but the special effects were very nice. At one point bubbles started falling from the ceiling. A black light lit them up, and when they popped, they left speckles of residue that almost looked like paint splatter in the dark. Luckily, it did not leave any visible marks on clothing when the black light was turned off. In addition to this, the show used quite a bit of stage fog, which I personally love. The rocking chair up on stage also moved by itself. For such a small performance, its special effects were on par, if not a little better than a good high school play performed with quite a bit of dedication.
Overall, I didn't have too bad of a time. It was nice getting out. Unfortunately the tickets were $12.00 for adults and $8.00 for children when I went, but the show was not horrible. It was a bit childish and the advertizing claimed it to be much more thrilling and horrifying than it truly was. They often yelled suddenly, creating jump scares, but that's about it. I was a bit disappointed, but it was a 30 minute show designed to take money from tourists, so I didn't expect all that much. I was shocked to find out the whole show was acted out by only two people. I can truly commend the dedication of these people. They both took to the stage once the show was over and offered to answer any questions about either the show, or Salem's history. They were patient and answered each question with a rather profound amount of knowledge. Overall, however, I wouldn't recommend the show to many people, unless they're either a child or a tourist. I think a child would enjoy the eerie and mysterious atmosphere, and at this point, I'm pretty sure tourists will by into anything. I would definitely call this show a “tourist trap.” It was good for the resources the theater had, but it was a quick money maker on people craving a “scary” experience in Salem.