The
Harry Potter series of books and movies is often thought of as a prime example
of exceptional literature today. Although the books may seem silly or
unrealistic there are many connections to history buried underneath all the
magic. One specific scene from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire makes an
almost direct connection to the history of the colonial Salem Witch Trials. It
is rather fitting that a story about wizards would connect in such an elegant
way to the history of witchcraft.
In
one scene of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Harry is viewing a memory in
Dumbledore’s Pensieve. The specific scene that he is witnessing occurred many
years earlier. This scene was the trial of Karkaroff. In this part of the movie
Karkaroff has been brought to the Ministry of Magic in order to give the names
of Death Eaters who have not yet been caught by the Aurors. After naming people
such as Severus Snape and another man from the Department of Mystery Karkaroff
does not seem to be capturing the judge’s attention. Finally, as the head judge
threatens to send Karkaroff back to Azkaban the prisoner comes forward with new
information. He states that Barty Crouch Jr. used the cruciatus curse to
torture Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom. As Barty Crouch is the head judge and Barty
Crouch Jr. is sitting in the room quite a commotion arises. After Barty Crouch
Jr. is wrestled to the ground and his father disowns him the text implies that
Barty Crouch Jr. is sent to Azkaban. It is also implied that Karkaroff was
released because of this information as he is now the headmaster of Durmstrang, a wizard school other than Hogwarts. How did a death
eater become a headmaster?
This
scene relates to the Salem Witch Trials. These unfair trials were held in
colonial Massachusetts between 1692 and 1693. It all began when two girls ages
9 and 11 began to have fits in which they would make unnatural noises, contort,
and throw things. They were immediately seen by the local doctor. The local
doctor blamed these events on the supernatural. Soon after another girl began
to have these episodes. The girls then preceded to blame 3 women in their town
for causing them to do these things. One of the only ways not to get burned or
hanged for witchcraft was to say that someone else made you do the thing that
you did. Eventually more and more people were convicted as neighbors blamed
each other for being involved in witchcraft in order to not be killed. Finally,
a minister by the name of Cotton Mather declared that spectral evidence should
not be used anymore.
Just
like the people in 1692 trying to dodge the charges of witchcraft, Karkaroff
from Harry Potter names as many dark wizards as he can in order to hopefully
avoid a life in the most brutal prison. Lucky for Karkaroff this strategy
worked just as well as it did in colonial Salem Massachusetts. The fantasy
world of Harry Potter coincides perfectly with the rich history of Salem.
Luckily this insanity was ended before it claimed more than 21 lives. Hopefully
the wizard world of Harry Potter eventually realized this too.
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| Karkaroff |
Bibliography
Website
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-brief-history-of-the-salem-witch-trials-175162489/
Picture
http://images.wikia.com/harrypotter/images/d/dc/KarkaroffHogwarts.jpg
Please watch this clip from the Harry Potter Movie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyZkdw1TBpA
I really liked your post, I consider myself am a big harry potter fan. As soon as you mentioned the Salem Witch Trails I was a little intrigued but then a couple lines I knew what you were going to connect it to. It was a very good connection, it made sense and its almost as if the only thing changed was the genders.
ReplyDeleteI was interested to see that Harry Potter had shown up on a history blog, albeit skeptical. However, after reading this post, the connection that as made is phenomenal. Also, it is about a topic that many people know about now-a-days, as opposed to something rather obscure.
ReplyDeleteBig fan of Harry Potter here! I really liked your blogpost and not only because it had Harry Potter! I really liked how you connected Karkaroff's trial with the Salem Witch trials and you are right there are a lot of connections; Karkaroff trying to keep himself alive sprout's up names and tries to extend his life. This is like how the girls during the Salem Witch trials acted. To try and save themselves, they told the audience other people's names to keep themselves alive. Overall, I really enjoyed this blogpost! Nice Job!
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed Harry Potter, but have never made this connection between it and the witch trials, which I thought was very true and interesting. The two do seem to be very similar. I thought you explained the connection very well and it shows you are not just thinking about history, but applying it to other things you see!
ReplyDeleteNiles,
ReplyDeleteYour blog post intrigued me right from the title. When I was scrolling through blog posts, naturally the first one that I want to click on is titled "Wizards!!!". I was pleased to discover that more about your post was exciting than just the title. You made some very interesting connections that I would not have thought of. I was especially taken aback with your connection to the scene where Harry is viewing the trial of Karkaroff in the Pensieve. I never would have connected this to a standard witch trial in Salem. It was connections like this, another being your statement about Karkaroff naming all the wizards he can to get out of going to Azkaban, that made me really appreciate your writing. Great job!
-Travis
You did a very good job with this. I knew you'd talk about the trials but you seemed so excited about them. The connection was really good to how even the wizard trials arelike the salem witch trials. The connection was made clear enough that even if you don't read harry potter youd get it.
ReplyDeletepersonally im not much of a fan of harry potter but I think you did a good job in keeping me interested. good job Niles
ReplyDelete