Questions to Consider: “Wonders of the Invisible World”
While Mather may express some misgivings about spectral evidence, it’s clear he believes that witchcraft exists and is preying on the community. Do you truly believe that Mather is writing as a disinterested historian rather than an advocate or participant? What do you think Mather truly believes, and how do you come to this conclusion?
What is Mather’s primary motivation to write these passages? Which evidence makes you believe this is so?
According to Mather, why does the devil want to target the Salem area?
Which components of society is Mather most concerned with having been affected by witchcraft? Why?
What parallels do you draw between Wonders of the Invisible World and “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”? Consider the use of figurative language, religious references, and motivation.
What do you make of the court system as described by Mather? Consider the testimonies against Martha Carrier and what constituted as “evidence.”
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