Puritan Society Of The Salem Witch Trials - 1793 Words

Puritan society was a utopia made of strict religious conduct and revolved around God s ultimate path and blessing. Anything that was believed to be sinful or was of material desires would be considered a sin, and later requires extensive prayer for God s forgiveness. Puritans believed that their philosophy would last forever, and it would never become under threat from both seen and unseen forces. Puritan society was formed in and around Massachusetts, and would become the basis of American society as we know it to be today. One place, in which Puritan philosophy was invaded with such unseen forces, dates back to Salem, Massachusetts in the late seventeenth century. This unseen force that invaded Puritan thought would become the basis†¦show more content†¦The nature imagery used expresses the flaws of Puritan thought and anxieties towards outside forces, both seen and unseen. Through his use of nature imagery and diction, the reader obtains a better understanding of such P uritan anxiety within the community as they try to maintain their utopian society from collapsing to these supernatural forces caused by an irritated and vengeful Devil. Nature imagery can turn an ordinary piece of literature into a vivid recollection of history. In Wonders of the Invisible World, nature plays a key role in discovering the hidden meaning being Puritan thought and doctrine, as well as aiding the reader to better understand why witchcraft become highly connected to many of their societal problems. This is evident in the very first lines; â€Å"The New Englanders are a people of God settled in those, which were once the devil’s territories†¦such a people here accomplishing the promise of old made unto our blessed Jesus, that He should have the utmost parts of the earth for His possession† (Mather 151). This is a very important passage because it quickly sets the tone for what is to come; that being that Puritans believed that until their colonies set tled, the land was under rule of the devil. This highlights that Puritans like Mather, were under the impression that any land not touched by Puritan doctrine was previously under devilish influences. Nature therefore explains that it is a God given right to the Puritans as a way to possess the