Examination of Sarah Good Court Transcript 1692 Thematic

“Examination of Sarah Good” Court Transcript, 1692

� Thematic Link � Although Americans often give too much weight to the witchcraft episode in assessing colonial history, it does form a part of the Puritan tradition. � Sarah Good struggles ineffectively to clear her name. She desperately resorts to lies that only arouse deeper suspicions in her accusers, who view the proceedings as a conflict between heaven and hell. � Focusing �Literary your Reading: Analysis: Transcript �Active Reading: Bias, Loaded Language, Loaded Questions

� The Summary �Implies that Good accused Sarah Osborne immediately after Good was asked who tortured the children. The transcript reveals Good’s reluctance to make the accusation, which is dragged out of her after several questions.

� The Transcript and Detecting Bias �Phrasing of the questions: Rather than asking whether Sarah Good hurt the children, the questioner assumes that she did and simply asks why and how she hurt them. Thus, his questions indicate bias. �Deceptive modes of persuasion Use of loaded language-words or phrases chosen to appeal to emotions, to create a prejudice in the mind of the hearer, or to control an answer to a question. � Loaded language often works through the connotative power of words.

� Reaction to Sarah Good’s examination � She seems to have been misunderstood, mistreated, and condemned because she did not have a pleasant personality or know how to deal with the accusations brought against her. � Good’s alleged victims: � Four girls of Sale � She denies that she children. � ever used any witchcraft or hurt the Court officials attitude toward Sarah Good: � Prejudiced against Good � She is asked leading questions in loaded language, and the statement at the end of the transcript indicates the officials have made up their minds that she is an “enemy of good, ” though there is no evidence but hearsay. � Court officials attitude may be coming from their fear and superstition, and they want to protect Salem from witchcraft. � They may possibly have a grudge against Good.

� Reasons for Sarah Good accusing Sarah Osborne of being a witch: � Good is desperately trying to shift blame from herself. � Sarah Good’s husband testifying against her: � Good’s husband seems to have had trouble dealing with Good, who was probably a difficult and stubborn person. He could be prosecuted too. � Explanation offered for the apparent torments suffered by the girls who accuse Sarah Good: � Convulsions of the children were a result of mass hysteria or were willingly faked by them, who had started the panic and did not know how to stop and admit their fault. � False Accusations