Tuesday, August 4, 2015

On Tituba, First Accused Witch of Salem, and Witchcraft



In I, Tituba, a fictional bio of Tituba, Maryse Condé has Tituba challenge the negative Puritan notion of a witch, rejecting their accusations based on her skin color and skill in healing and magic: “What is a witch? . . I noticed that . . .the word . .was marked with disapproval.  Why should that be?  . . . Isn’t the ability to communicate with the invisible world, to keep constant links with the dead, to care for others and heal, a superior gift of nature that inspires respect, admiration, and gratitude? Consequently, shouldn’t the witch  . . . be cherished and revered rather than feared?”(17)

No comments:

Post a Comment