The primary source, “Malleus Maleficarum,” and the secondary source, by Lynda Roper, on cannibalism, both offer a glimpse into the beliefs and accusations surrounding witches. According to the “Malleus Maleficarum,” witches were accused of various crimes related to disrupting or harming human reproduction, including aborting fetuses, killing newborns, and making men impotent (Breslaw 31). For example, “Malleus Maleficarum” states, “Witches can also harm men’s genitalia, preventing them from having children” (Breslaw 31). The witches were accused of disrupting, reflecting societal fears about the role of women in society and their perceived threat to the stability and continuity of the community.
Women were often seen as responsible for the community’s health and well-being. Roper argues that these accusations reflect societal fears about the role of women in society (Roper 69). As a result, any disruption to the normal functioning of the community, such as infertility or death, was often seen as the result of a woman’s wrongdoing (Roper 69). Additionally, Roper argues that the witch craze reflected a broader anxiety about the shifting roles of women in society (Roper 73). As women gained more power and independence, their traditional position as caretakers was threatened, leading to increased fears about their ability to disrupt the community.
This perspective is supported by the “Witch Craze,” which emphasizes the role of women in society as being responsible for maintaining order and continuity. According to the text, “Witches are the enemies of human procreation” (Roper 73). By disrupting or harming human reproduction, witches threatened the stability and continuity of the community. This, in turn, contributed to the perception of witches as dangerous and evil beings who needed to be punished or exterminated.
In conclusion, witches were accused of disrupting or harming human reproduction, such as aborting fetuses, killing newborns, and making men impotent. This reflects societal fears about the role of women in society and the perceived threat they pose to the stability and continuity of the community. These accusations demonstrate the ways in which the witch craze was rooted in broader anxieties about the shifting roles of women in society and the fear of female empowerment.
Works Cited
Breslaw, Elaine G. Witches of the Atlantic World a Historical Reader & Primary Sourcebook. New York University Press, 2000.
Roper, Lyndal. Witch Craze. Yale University Press, 2004. JSTOR, Web.