The name Salem or any mention of the Salem witch trials almost always attracts attention, and usually this sudden attention is not due to a respectable story. Many people think of the Salem witch trials and begin to imagine an out-of-control environment. This connotation comes from a number of sources, a popular one being Arthur Miller's famous play The Crucible, which was later adapted into a film. The play and film, both dramatically appealing works, are only somewhat historically accurate, lacking the substance needed to truly understand why or how devastating events like the witch trials might occur. With so many mythologized events and perspectives, it can be difficult to find a source that separates fact from fiction. As a result, it is refreshing to find a book that describes the Salem witch trials in an accurate, non-dramatized way. More importantly, a historical perspective is needed to accurately describe the witch trials; and this is where Boyer and Nissenbaum's Salem Possessed: The Social Origins of Witchcraft stands out from the rest. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Rather than focus on the obvious, Boyer and Nissenbaum confirm witchcraft hysteria by providing in-depth research into the social, economic, and political events that led up to the hysteria. Their book, which is not organized chronologically, begins with a chapter titled “1692: Some New Perspectives,” setting an unusual vision and meticulous tone for the rest of the book. Detail after detail, the authors dissect the witchcraft hysteria in a historically rigorous manner that effectively clarifies everything that happened in Salem in 1692. And while all the minute details and countless names discussed in the book may be overwhelming for some, any person who are genuinely curious about Salem before, during, and after the frenzy, can gain a deep understanding of the events. Before digging into Salem's past, the authors offer a quick preface to the work that explains what motivated them to write the book. A college course they took that led them to research Salem led Boyer and Nissenbaum to find much unpublished documentation. After that, the two writers continue to question past research (or lack thereof) on Salem and how biased it seemed. Boyer and Nissenbaum then go on to describe their desire to use these new documents in a way that helps clarify how such an extraordinary thing could happen to such an ordinary town as Salem. With the unique beginning of such a scholarly work that is unique in itself, Boyer and Nissenbaum successfully attract readers from the beginning. These unexplored documents give Boyer and Nissenbaum yet another unique aspect to rely on to provide a focused argument. background to the witch trials rather than the trials themselves. With maps, church records, and demographic data, the authors evaluate parts of Salem that are not normally thought of when one thinks of the city. Geographically, Boyer and Nissenbaum note an intriguing trend in where accusers, accused witches, and defenders lived throughout the village. Most of the defendants and defenders lived in the eastern part of the village, while the majority of the accusers lived in the western part. Suddenly, something as mundane as geography becomes a factor that must be weighed. This new model forces writers to take into account thesocial context of the village. With a map, Boyer and Nissenbaum are given two new angles to examine, the geography and social factors of Salem. These new insights represent two very compelling resources for Boyer and Nissenbaum and offer a new approach to uncovering Salem's history. Further research into the village revealed the complex, deeply rooted relationship between two prominent families in the town: the Porters and the Putnams. Two leading families in the social atmosphere of 1692 Salem create exceptional tension throughout the village. Although they were once friendly, the two families grow increasingly separated over time. Thomas Putnam's jealousy of his younger brother Joseph, who marries a Porter, gets the better of him and chaos ensues between the Putnams and the Porters. Boyer and Nissenbaum realize the great significance that these two families have for the entire village and focus intensely on the dynamics of the relationship that very likely could have been an important factor in the origin of the witch hysteria. Such internal disputes many readers can refer to from their own experiences, although these experiences are most likely not on such a large and destructive scale. Furthermore, historical evidence such as that of the family dispute offers an even more compelling indication of how the hysteria built up so massively and rapidly. What keeps this evidence from fully convincing the public is the lack of knowledge of how people from areas other than Salem were involved. Boyer and Nissenbaum's main focus lies in the clash that occurred between two families who were in the center of Salem and not in the surrounding towns in Massachusetts Bay. Although the Porter-Putnam story may be a possible origin of witchcraft hysteria, a solid explanation as to how this hysteria spread so widely throughout the state of Massachusetts is lacking. The evidence the writers provided that was particularly intriguing were church documents on wealth and church membership. Charts three and four in the book take a look at the number of villagers who were pro-Parris, the church members, and how much taxes they paid. Upon examination, the data illustrates a trend in which many poor villagers who were not members of the church supported Parris, a man many believe was a major cause of the witch trials. Parris was also often supported by the Putnam family, who tended to be the ones accusing others of witchcraft. Parris and his followers played a critical role in the escalation of accusations and trials throughout Salem. Many readers already know this. But few have seen the tax lists and church records that Boyer and Nissenbaum include in their book. Once again, Boyer and Nissenbaum offer some new insights. Being able to see these lists gives the public a chance to see for themselves the captivating yet troubling evidence that may very well be a major reason why witch trials spread like wildfire. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay One of the major differences between this book and many other books about the Salem witch trials that simply aim for dramatic effect is that Boyer and Nissenbaum's analysis brings up aspects that have rarely been thought of before. Community effects, village geography, political factors, demographics, etc. Each of them seems like insignificant information that is unlikely to cause such massive hysteria; but when put together, the evidence is astonishing. Boyer and Nissenbaum do not leave the.