tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post8980554890050330242..comments2024-03-23T12:38:46.260+00:00Comments on The History Girls: 'Accused of witchcraft and murder in 1518 and 2018' by Karen MaitlandMary Hoffmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241989732624913706noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-49163707474818971272018-03-08T18:13:41.860+00:002018-03-08T18:13:41.860+00:00Thank you so much for your comment. I will treat m...Thank you so much for your comment. I will treat myself to that book by Marvin Harris. It sounds fascinating, and so topical as you say at the moment. Sadly, I think you are right, we can expect more variations on this theme.Karen Maitlandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07658962341244062060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-90809680449897286112018-03-08T12:45:00.467+00:002018-03-08T12:45:00.467+00:00Very, very interesting (and depressing.)
There'...Very, very interesting (and depressing.)<br />There's a fascinating book: 'War, Witches, Cows and Pigs' by Marvin Harris.<br /><br />In it he examines cultural memes that seem, to outsiders, quite senseless-- such as not eating specific animals or periodically going on witch-hunts-- and looks for the underlying reasons that make such behaviour useful for a given society.<br /><br />With witch hunts, he concludes that it's one way that the rich and powerful divert attention away from themselves during turbulent, difficult times and dodge the blame for causing that turbulence -- 'It wasn't us, it was those witches!' (Contrast and compare with today.)<br /><br />Witch hunts of various kinds always rise during times of political and economic instability -- for instance, Europe and Scotland suffered far more and for far longer from witch-hunting than England ever did. Scotland and Europe also suffered far more from wars, religious strife and political uncertainty.<br /><br />After examining many European witch trials, Harris concludes that the way to stop a witch hunt dead in its tracks is for an arrested witch to insist that they saw many members of the ruling class at a sabbat. As soon as any investigation turned towards the aristocrats, they closed rank and, suddenly, it wasn't important to find those pesky witches after all. The purpose of a witch-hunt was to divide, occupy and confuse the ruled, not harm the rulers.<br /><br />So interesting to see here that, although the accusations came surprisingly close to Sidonie, she was still able to escape and all accusations were recanted. She does seem to have been unusually threatened, though, for one of her rank.<br /><br />Given the present political climate, I think we'll see more witch-hunts (or hunts for communists, or Satan-worshipping child murderers or immigrants. Or, maybe, Brexiters or Remoaners. And the ever popular Anti-Semitism is on the rise.<br /><br />As I said, depressing. But what can you expect from rather stupid apes who consider themselves wise?<br />Susan Pricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738737493756183909noreply@blogger.com