Death Warrant of Bridget Bishop, 1692
The Death Warrant of Bridget Bishop by Jaden Hwang
On June 10th, 1692, the Salem court issued a death warrant for Bridget Bishop after finding evidence of witchcraft against her. Despite being innocent of witchcraft, Bishop was one of the most hated people in Salem, as over ten people testified against her on the fateful day of her trial. Many townsfolk believed Bishop was cursed because two of her previous husbands died due to mysterious circumstances. Another contributor to this belief is the disappearance of
items around Bishop, as she was known to steal items from the townsfolk. Eventually, on April 18th, she was arrested and held on trial a few days later, where the court decided to execute Bishop for her crimes. Bishop became the first person to be executed during the Salem Witch Trials, and woefully she will not be the only one to be found guilty.
Although “The Death Warrant of Bridget Bishop” seems like an ordinary court order, in reality, it is a religious document that uses politics as an excuse for the antics of the church. As the court order continues, religious themes become more prevalent throughout the trial, as the court accuses Bishop of having ties with the devil and therefore decides to condemn her in the name of God. The document delves further by noting, “[The court] put [Bishop] upon God … [where] she was found guilty … in the name of [the] … King and Queen”. According to royal bloodlines, the King and Queen are chosen directly by God to carry out the will of God. When the quote talks about finding Bishop guilty according to the Queen and King, it also refers to being found guilty in the eyes of God since the Queen and King are representatives of God. Even though “The Death Warrant of Bridget Bishop” is a political document, it still displays the tragedies of using religion as a source of politics.
Therefore, the Salem Witch Trials will forever remain in history as a reminder of letting politics be dictated by truth instead of religious superstition. Even though practicing religion is a good trait for most people, past experiences like the Salem Witch Trials and the Slave Trade demonstrate how dangerous religion can be when religion is interpreted wrongly. Overall, “The Death Warrant of Bridget Bishop” is a reminder of the terror of human potential when it is influenced by religion.
