A Gobber Tooth, A Hairy Lip, A Squint Eye: Concepts of the Witch and the Body in Early Modern Europe

This thesis discusses early modern European perceptions of body and soul in association with the increasing stringency of civilized behaviour and state formation in an effort to provide motivation for the increased severity of the witch hunts of that time. Both secondary and primary sources have been used, in particular the contemporary demonologies by such authors as Bodin, and Kramer and Sprenger. The thesis is divided into five chapters, including an Introduction and Conclusion. The body of the thesis focuses on religious, scientific, and secular beliefs (Ch. 2), appearance and characteristics of witches (Ch. 3), and the activities and behaviours/actions of witches, (Ch. 4). This study concentrates on the similarities found across Europe, and, as the majority of witches persecuted were female, my thesis emphasizes women as victims of the witch hunts.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of North Texas

Year dc:date

2000

Author dc:creator

• Easley, Patricia Thompson

Contributors dc:contributor

• Jordan, Ann
• Seligmann, Gustav L.
• Sahlin, Claire

• Witches -- Europe -- History.
• Witchcraft -- Europe -- History.
• Mind and body -- Europe -- History.
• early modern European
• witch hunt
• body and soul
• state formation
• demonologies

Statement dc:rights

• Public
• Copyright
• Easley, Patricia Thompson
• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

oclc: 47734041
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc2646/
ark: ark:/67531/metadc2646

OAI identifier oai:identifier

info:ark/67531/metadc2646