I’ve been reading up on the Salem witch trials for a personal project, and have listened to 3 separate audio books on them (In the Devil’s Snare, The Witches, and A Delusion of Satan).
The similarities to today are more than I imagined. But the similarities between Reverend Parris–the original instigator, and the mouthpiece for the trials–and Donald Trump are unreal. Descriptions of both sound pretty much identical. Unlike The Crucible depicts he was not sidelined, or made a reluctant participant.
Description of Parris (2/3 books were released before 2016):
Received a large inheritance from his father, but a failed merchant and businessman in both Barbados and New England.
Considered charming, well-spoken, and handsome–educated and likely acquainted with the theater. Dropped out of Harvard.
His wife, Elizabeth Parris was widely considered one of the most beautiful women in the area.
Deeply fixated on status, and compensation. Puritans generally considered material luxuries sinful. Salem Village was an offshoot from Salem Town, of the most pious members, and Parris was the first ordained minster.
His hiring, and tenure were deeply divisive, and hiring done behind closed doors. Most communities hired their ministers very openly.
some of his biggest supporters was an influential family who made 60 separate accusations, all against political or personal rivals. The father, Thomas Putnam, was involved in hiring him. The 2 girls, Anne and Mercy Lewis, and also Anne Sr. were some of the central afflicted, and they were all highly educated and intelligent enough to manipulate people, and coordinate.
Hired with irregular demands, including ownership of the parsonage (minister’s home), and an unusually high salary.
Constantly feuded with his congregation and named people in sermons. Generally who hadn’t contributed, paid respect, or attended church, and who opposed him. There were a lot of sermons.
Encouraged feuds and factions even before 1692, and actively stoked fears and paranoia during the accusations, hearings, and trials.
Granted irregular legal powers and authority to make arrests by the Governor. Supported the use of spectral evidence (ghost stories).
I’ve been reading up on the Salem witch trials for a personal project, and have listened to 3 separate audio books on them (In the Devil’s Snare, The Witches, and A Delusion of Satan).
The similarities to today are more than I imagined. But the similarities between Reverend Parris–the original instigator, and the mouthpiece for the trials–and Donald Trump are unreal. Descriptions of both sound pretty much identical. Unlike The Crucible depicts he was not sidelined, or made a reluctant participant.
Description of Parris (2/3 books were released before 2016):