Overview
What does it mean to be bewitched in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries? Consider Anne Gunter’s case and the fact that she was very convincing, up to a point, in faking her bewitchment. This suggests that there are expected norms of behavior (or abnormal behavior) in early modern England and Europe which can be identified as caused by witches. Where do such ideas come from? Consider the influence of the church, of beliefs, pamphlets, tracts, but the very strongest analysis will consider WHY such behavior is classified as witchcraft, as opposed to some other illness.