Introduction & Context: “Wonders of the Invisible World” by Cotton Mather
The next text we’ll be covering is Wonders of the Invisible World by Cotton Mather. Mather published the text in 1693 as a defense of Mather’s approval of the Salem Witch Trials.
Rather than read the entire book, we’ll be focusing on just a few sections. You can find the full book here or here for a more searchable option. However, this is the reading I’ll be focusing on.
Wonders of the Invisible World focuses on the trials from Mather’s perspective. Mather wants to focus on the care the court put into managing the trials. Although Mather supported the trials, he warned the court not to rely on spectral evidence to secure a conviction.
Initially, Mather wrote the piece as a type of celebration. He truly believed that the devil was using witchcraft to undermine and destroy the church. He believed the trials were necessary. Mather rewrote portions of the text to make clear that he did not support spectral evidence. He also condemned confessions extracted with torture, but he did defend the court verdict.
If you look through the text, you’ll see that the book includes accounts of several of the witch trials. This material is copied from real court records.
Who Was Cotton Mather?
Cotton Mather was born in 1663. After he graduated from Harvard College, Mather followed in his father’s footsteps and became a pastor in Boston. His father, Increase Mather, also wrote about the witch trials in Salem.
Wonders was not Mather’s only writing on the topic. He’d also written a book called Memorable Providences Relating to Witchcrafts and Possessions in 1689. In this text, Mather described his belief that the children of a Boston mason named John Goodwin had become affected by witchcraft. They were having fits that include back pain, loud cries, flapping arms, and self-harm. Some of these fits would be seen again during the Salem trials.
The Salem Witch Trials
The Salem Witch Trials was a series of hearings for people accused of witchcraft near Salem, Massachusetts. More than 200 people were accused of witchcraft, and 30 were found guilty. While 20 people were executed, five died in jail. This was the deadliest witch hunt in colonial North America and a great example of mass hysteria.
There is so much more to talk about relating to the Salem witch trials, and it’s extremely fascinating. If you’re interested in reading a fictional account of the trials, I recommend reading The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Wikipedia is also sure to send you down the rabbit hole.
One major theme relates our previous text, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” to Wonders: anxiety.
Before Reading
Before reading the selection from Wonders of the Invisible World, there are a few things you should consider.
First, Mather presents himself as an unbiased party when he discusses testimonies against witches. As you read, consider Mather’s bias in his presentation of information and court testimony. What is Mather’s goal?
Also, keep in mind that Mather was not present for the trials. The information comes from court documents. What impact does this have on the events he retells?
Let’s get reading!
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