Witch of Blackbird Pond

A detailed Summary of Witch of Blackbird Pond

Can you imagine walking around with a big white collar, a tall black hat, brown dress, brown shoes and buckles all over? Well I sure can not. The Witch of Blackbird Pond written by Elizabeth George Speare is a novel which takes place in Wethersfield Connecticut during the 1600's in a Puritan village. The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a novel written about a girl named Katherine Tyler who comes from Barbados to live in Connecticut. Katherine (Kit) goes to Connecticut in fear of marring an elder man to pay off a debt left by her father. When Kit comes to Connecticut many people are amazed by what she can do; such as swim and read. She soon becomes friends with Hannah a Quaker who lives in town. Everyone thinks that Hannah is a witch, and soon people begin to believe that Kit is one too. They are both charged with witchcraft soon after. Kit helps Hannah leave town but stays in town to face the consequences herself. They find Kit not guilty; and Kit leaves Connecticut to live happily ever after. Not all people from Puritan time lived happily ever after. Three characteristics of Puritan life that are different from today are religion, the role of women, and punishment.

In conclusion, life in the 1600's during Puritan time is very different than that of present day life. You had only one choice for religion; and that choice was Puritanism. If you made the choice to become anything else but a Puritan you were punished and critisized. Also, the role of women is different. I can not imagine not being able to make my own desicions, not to be able to run my own life and especially not be educated. Lastly, punishment then was unbearable. People's lives in prison now seem like royalty compared to that of men and women who have been punished during the 1600's . We as people take so many things for granted. We do not realize what we have and what we have the ability to have in the present or the future. Every once in a while people should stop to smell the roses.

Lastly, punishment for commiting a crime is very different than it is now. Punishment during Puritan times was done for the reason of embarrasment. People were put in stocks, pillars and were tar and feathered. While in the stocks a crowd would gather around and mock that person, throw things and make then the town joke. Lastly, the witch trials are another important punishment of Puritan life that does not exist anymore. For example, just because Kit is friends with

When Kit brought her trunks filled with bright, printed dresses many did not like them. Only a few enjoyed them and appreciated them. When Judith put on one of the dresses she was so excited she said, "Five slits in the sleeves! Our minister preached against slit sleeves and Father won't let us make even one. And so many ribbons and bows! And, oh, Kit-a red satin petticoat-how gorgeous!" (Speare 41). This shows that when a person of religious stature speaks out pub

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Approximate Word count = 1178
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English