A Deed Without a Name: The Witch in Society and HistoryMacbeth: How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags? What is't you do?Three Witches: A deed without a name.Macbeth, Act 4, Scene IWhat lessons can we learn from witch beliefs and witch-hunts in traditional societies and in earlier times?This fascinating cross-cultural survey of witchcraft aims to provide undergraduate students of anthropology and history with a comprehensive introduction to the figure of the witch. Case studies of witch-hunts in a broad range of societies -- from medieval Europe to America and tribal Africa -- demonstrate how those individuals who are perceived as a threat to the existing power structure are most vulnerable to being labelled a witch. The author argues that the process of 'labelling' witches has not changed and is used in western societies even today for scapegoating minorities and other groups such as people with AIDS. |
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accused of witchcraft activities anthropologists antisocial appears argues associated attack Azande Baroja Basso became behaviour believed benandanti bewitched Bohannan Briggs cause century Ceŵa Chattox Christian claimed clan Cohn competition concerned confessed conflict Consequently Crawford cultures cunning folk death Demdike demons developed Devil diagnosed died diviners doctor Early Modern Europe Efik England European European witchcraft evil examination example familiar spirit Gluckman Gombe groups guilty Handsome Lake headman heresy idea identified illness individuals influence interpreted involved killed King Kluckhohn 1967 Ladurie Larner longhouse Macfarlane 1970a magic Mair maleficium Marwick matrilineal Mbuti medieval misfortune Monter Muhlavo Mukanza Nadel Navaho Ndembu neighbours nganga Nupe Nyakyusa offence oracle ordeal particular Pendle witches persons poison political relationships relatives Robbins Rosemary Harris Russell Sahaykwisa Sandombu Shona social society suspects suspicions Templars Thomas Turner usually victims village Western Apache wife witch-beliefs Witch-Craze witch-finders witch-hunts witch-image witchcraft accusations witchcraft beliefs witches woman women