Review the article "Was the Salem Witchcraft Hysteria a Product of Women’s Search for Power?” a) Summarize each author’s positio
n on the question "Was the Salem witchcraft hysteria a product of women’s search for power?” Describe each author’s main arguments, and discuss the supporting evidence used. b) Evaluate which author’s argument is stronger and why.
A. Lyle Koehler explains that women were just looking for a way to become greater than men since patriarchy was a big deal back then, while Laurie Winn Carlson explains that people were most likely mentally affected because of an encephalitis epidemic. Koehler also adds that three-fourths of the people accused of witchcraft in Salem were females but also, of the 56 men accused, half were related to accused women. He also explains that many women openly flouted the ideal role established for women in Puritan society. In Carlson's perspective, people fail to include the physical and neurological symptoms exhibited by many of the residents of the town while giving explanations. These symptoms were very similar to those of encephalitis.
B. The arguments that was given by Laurie Winn Carlson is the strongest since it is giving actual facts of what has happening at that time and how it could have affected the people.
