Evidence of Bridget Bishop Trial - Essay Example

John Crook’s evidence in the same manner proved the witchcraft of the Bishop and narrated the event of five to six years before. Testimony of John Bly evolved a sow which turned out to be one of the important pieces of evidence as it was used by the Edward Bishop, the husband of the convicted and the sow was suspected of performing some uncanny activities soon after the quarrel of Bishop and Bly.

Also, the testimony of Richard Coman, who witnessed an unnatural circumstance eight years previous to the trial while lying awaken on his bed and saw an apparition of Bishop, was added as important evidence in the trial. Also the testimony of Samuel Shattock, John Louder, and William Stacy was taken into serious consideration for the evidence of Bridget Bishop’s trial. Apart from these the witch cake, the spectral evidence, and various touch tests suggested a strong indication of the infliction of witchcraft.

A thorough study of Bridget Bishop's case indicates there are myriad social, political, local, and religious motifs involved. For all these reasons, the local motifs are quite pertinent. In the village of Salem, issues about the demarcation of property and grazing land were disputed, and quarrels related to these disputes were very commonplace in the neighborhood. And among all this turmoil the privileges of the church and its property along with the issues of grazing rights performed a cliché role in this case. But the obvious motif behind this case seems to be superstitions and contemporary puritan visions which protested many of the orthodox and protestant rituals of the church. Apart from this, the motif of jealousy and usurping of property is one of the important motives that evolve. Bishop was childless though she married thrice so definitely her property was actually heirless and therefore her captivation or early death would have been very much fruitful for many people.

Yet a detailed study of the Bridget Bishop Trial would enable us to understand myriad socio-political and religious overtones that were the obvious issues of the time and were well reflected through the case. Also, many superstitions and exaggeration are involved in the narration of the trial which confuses the scientific base of the case and the inherent psychological and sociological issues related to it.