Salem Possessed

Book Review of Salem Possessed
Paul Boyer and Stephen Nissenbaum’s Salem Possessed: The Social Origins of Witchcraft presents a particular time in our history when communalism and individualism were challenged expressed through the views of Salem Town, a commercial trade area, verses Salem Village, an agricultural based area. Social, religious, and individual views collaboratively introduce witchcraft into New England.
Although Salem Town and Salem Village benefited off of one another, there was no doubt that the beliefs contradicted one another. Salem Town believed in mercantile benefit and were more political. Each person believed in individuality. Salem Village were the less wealthy community who strictly followed the word of the Lord. Furthermore, Salem Village wanted to become independent from Salem Town through the creation of their own independent church. Since Salem Town was so reliant upon Salem Village’s produces, they couldn’t afford to lose that part of their economics. At the same time, the Village wanted to separate because of their different ideals when it came to autonomy.
In 1689, Reverend Samuel Parris was asked to come to Salem Village. Born of a merchant family and failing at his own business, he decided to become a clergy man and believed business was evil. Many didn’t particularly agree with his beliefs which divided people into Pro-Parris and Anti-Parris categories. He took stories of the bible and manipulated them in order to create tension between the villagers and the townspeople. Those who opposed him are seen as sinful and therefore conducted witchcraft.  
People chose sides, factions were created and social issues began to go completely out of control. To get more in depth with the situations, there were two families that were opposite of each other. The Porter family, associated with Salem Town, and the Putnam family, associated with Salem Village.
Father of the Putnam clan, Thomas Putnam Sr. married to Ann Holyoke and had eight...