Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this narrative. What effect does word choice have on the meaning o
f this excerpt from Benjamin Franklin's "A Witch Trial at Mount Holly"? But it being the general Belief of the Populace that the Women's shifts and the Garters with which they were bound help'd to support them, it is said they are to be tried again the next warm Weather, naked.
The phrase "the next warm Weather, naked" adds humor.
Explanation:
In these lines, Franklin recounts a story that does not seem very logical. He talks about a witch trial, and he tells us that some women were being tried for witchcraft. However, he also tells us that people believed these "witches" were being "supported" by the "shifts and garters" with which they were bound. This is an absurd notion. Franklin build on this absurdity by presenting an even sillier scenario: that the women were going to be tried naked the next time there was warm weather.
Is this during the reconstruction period if so the blacks would be considered citizens but would not be receiving the same rights as other citizens because of black codes.
