The DARK History of Witch Hunts - Harry Potter Explained
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 3 окт 2024
- Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing the rather dark topic of WITCH HUNTS- diving deep in to how witch hunts and witch trials have shaped the course of the wizarding world’s (and our own) history.
While the world of Harry Potter may be filled with wonder and awe, it is not immune to the shadows that lurk in the human heart. Just like in our own MUGGLE history, the wizarding world has faced its fair share of witch hunts and unjust persecution, where fear and prejudice have cast a sinister veil over the lives of magical beings.
But before we get started on the fictional witch hunts that unfold within the pages of Harry Potter, I want to first take a look at the extensive history of witch hunts in our own world- a phenomenon spanning multiple centuries that claimed the lives of a staggering 35000 to 50000 victims. Once we’re done covering the real atrocities that occurred, we’ll segue in to the Wizarding World’s version of witch hunts and see how they differ.
▼ PODCAST (SPOTIFY)
open.spotify.c...
▼ PODCAST (APPLE)
podcasts.apple...
▼HARRY POTTER THEORY EXTRA CHANNEL (MORE CONTENT!)
/ @harrypottertheoryextra
▼MYTHOLOGY CHANNEL
/ @mythologyexplained
▼ Instagram - / hptheory
▼MAILING ADDRESS
HP Theory
PO BOX 37584
North Vancouver RPO The Quay
BC
V7M 0G4
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @harrypottertheory
Please LIKE / SUBSCRIBE / SHARE to support the channel
Leave your video ideas down below!
Thanks!
All content falls under fair use: any copying of copyrighted material done for a limited and “transformative” purpose, such as to comment upon, criticize, or parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner.
Thanks folks! MORE long format videos: ruclips.net/p/PLB5djWCQq2_e0UCOmVbhRP8HkxetpzXUV
Here's an example of witch hunts, from my homeland Hungary that describes most witch hunts quite well (I looked up Wikipedia for some details): it happened in Szeged, one of the most important Hungarian cities, also where my mother was born. It was the last witch hunt in Hungary, and it happened on 23 July, 1728. That year the area was suffering of a huge drought, and people believed that the witches have sold the rain of the next 7 years for the Turkish. The first victim was called Kökényné Nagy Anna, a midwife who was hated by everyone due to her grumpy and unpleasant personality. She was tortured to confess, and in the end she named 18 different people (both men and women) who were "guilty". One of them was Rózsa Dániel, an old man who used to be the judge of the city. He was the wealthiest person of Szeged at the time and many people were jealous of him. Also, he became the most influential person of the city very quickly, even though he used to be a sheperd. As the video said too, this was suspicious. Later he was tortured as well, and he said what the hunters wanted to hear. There were many signs that showed who is a witch/warlock: hairless armpits, weird birthmarks, etc. Also, some were stabbed with long needles by their torturers, who were searching for a Devil's Mark: a point of the body where the person doesn't feel pain. There was also another way of checking who is a normal person and who isn't: the suspect was tied to a rock and thrown in the Tisza, a river that flowes through Szeged, it's the second biggest river that goes through Hungary (the first is the Danube). If the person stays on the surface of the water, then they are guilty (not many were able to swim back then) because a) Satan helps them, b) the water doesn't accept them since they are supernatural beings. If the person drowned (which happened to three eldery women) they were "innocents who died a tragic death". This custom was adopted from Germany and Austria. Most suspects were midwives, or had some connection to herbs used in healing/harming others. In the end, the witch hunt had 21 victims, including the three drowned women, and three other people who died in prison before their execution.6 men and 6 women were burned at the stakes, including Kökényné Nagy Anna, Rózsa Dániel, his wife, and others. It's most likely that they were killed on the Boszorkánysziget, a place that was later named after them (boszorkány=witch, sziget=island, although it's actually a peninsula next to the city). Three other women were executed later. (One of them was pregnant so they waited until the child was born.) Their heads were cut off, and then their bodies were burned. I know this sounds more brutal, but I'd rather die this way, being decapitated is faster and less painfull. After the executions, urban legends and rumours were spread about the Boszorkánysziget being cursed: eldery people used them to scare children. It's said that the sound of leaves when moved by wind was like human speach, and faces were seen in the ashes that were blown away by the wind. Also, the "gravediggers" have found twelve amulettes after the execution, even though all the victims were almost completely undressed and weared no jewelry. They were so scared they didn't even touch them, just ran back to the city to tell what they saw. But when they came back with more people they didn't find the amulettes. Nor the ashes.
Rhis has happened after the witch hunts of Europe almost died out, so the incident had a huge echoe. Now there's a small museum in Szeged to keep their memory.
This is without a doubt the darkest period in Wizarding World history
Sadly it is actually pretty on par with much of world history. There are countless examples of people being unjustly persecuted, and often killed.
The witch hunts in Europe where also horrific and probably fits for the Harry Potter stories more then Salam
I can imagine Ilvermorny barricading its walls to protect its staff and students
Glah glah
I feel like since we canonically know an item of clothing can be imbued with a spell it casts upon the wearer, and also that Gwendolyn the Weird allowed herself to be caught so she could use flame freezing charms, there's a huge market there.
Having gone to Salem, once you know more about the historical events and the lore of the HP world, you really can't help but feel profound fascination, yet at the same time it feels we hadn't learned from our mistakes of the past and may be repeating the same mistakes
The main thing about the Salem witch trials just shows how hypocritical religion and the church really is. One of "God's" biggest rules is "thou shalt not kill." Yet thousands of innocent people were literally murdered, in the name of God. Because these people were sapposodly possessed by demons or the devil. That's what makes no sense whatsoever. How can you kill others "in the name of God" when one of God's biggest rules is to not kill your fellow man?
The only difference is Salem is in the US and HP is set in the UK, in the UK we have a different view to witchcraft in the UK. A few places in the US tried to ban the HP books when they came out in the 90s because they said they promoted witchcraft, while in the UK we are aware that the HP books are just fiction. Don't forget that the US was set up by Puritans. Here in the UK paganism, which in includes witchcraft, has been practiced since the 5th century, and still is today.
Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Those words have been passed down through the ages and are still ignored, sadly.
You forgot to mention another crucial detail regarding the Wizarding World's version of the Salem Witch Trials - The Scourers
The Scourers were immoral and greedy wizards and witches who took to becoming bounty hunters during the times surrounding the Salem Witch Trials. These blackhearted individuals were so vile that they hunted their fellow wizards and witches and turned them in to the muggle (or no-maj) witch-hunters in exchange for money. They were even so despicable as to do the same to no-majes who'd been accused of witchcraft and tried to go on the run or into hiding
The Scourers got away with their crimes becuz at the time there were no Aurors in the New World to protect and serve or a wizarding government to maintain law and order. When at last the forerunners of MACUSA had gotten onto their feet, with only Twelve Aurors, they set out to establish safety and security as well as to capture the Scourers and bring them to justice for their crimes.
Only a few Scourers escaped and were forced to hide by living among No-Majes, marrying them and raising their children to seek out and persecute magic, such as the Barebone family's members, like Bartholemew Barebone tricking Dorcus Twelvetrees, leading to a severe breach of the International Statute of Secrecy, or Mary Lou Barebone leading the Second Salemers, trying to convince and sway the No-Majes of New York of the existence of "witches" up until her death in 1926
The monstrous and vile crimes of the Scourers served as a dark and horrific example of why it was deemed necessary to divide the Magical and the Non-Magical, showcasing how even the common witch or wizard was capable of such evil, not just dark wizards and witches or pureblood fanatics
Ooh very interesting
Enjoyed this muggle studies lesson, thanks professor! :D
A little history lesson: Salem,Ma.wasn’t the only place such persecution took place in the US. Virginia Beach,Va. has a street named Witch Duck Rd. where this also took place during the colonial period.
People often forget about Virginia's history
I agree that missinformation and prejudice insisted the witch hunts, but let's not forget that not all wizards and warlocks are good and innocent. There are dark wizards out there, wanting to eliminate muggles if possible. So the punishment to those is justifiable, imo.
The majority of those witches and wizards reasons for wanting to hurt muggles stems from the abuse Wizardkind experienced by Muggles, prior to the witch hunts Dark Wizards weren't common enough for muggles to fear all magic
You do know that the term "warlock" denotes a traitor to their kind and coven, right?
And people wonder why Slytherin hated muggles 😂
To hell with Salazar Slytherin. 99% of time, I'd be willing to introduce the muggles around me to a basilisk or six.
Agreed but why hate muggle-borns, claiming them they aren't magical when they clearly are
😂😂 True that.
Not that hunts were useless because witches could make themselves "immune to non-magical fire" and enjoy it?
On top of that... Salazar hated non-magicals since before witch hunts became popular, he wasn't really right. On top of that, he also despised those who were born to them...
Salazar literally lived 1,000 years before the events of "The Philosopher's Stone" and a good couple of centuries before the mass witch hunt. Slytherin despised a species just for not having what the others had, and created a monster to murder those close to him...
In the end, Salazar watched from the other world as his superior people were banished to the shadows... The only place where they belong.
Salem trials: 40 victims
German Inquisition: *Hold my bier* 60k in the space of a hundred years
I expected the typical closing statement. This one is very well suited to the topic. I love it.
saw a very good documentary awhile back. a huge part of the salem witch trials was money/land based. i wish i could remember what it was called, but after about the second person being accused, the later individuals all either owed money or one another family was trying to grab their land. i think it was the judge? one of the individuals who was pressed to death, held onto his innocence so his family would not lose their land.
it would be interesting to know how the lore treats king james vi
Giles Corey was the OG thug.
“She turned me into a newt!………..
I got better.” - Nearly Headless Nick
Why didn't they just weigh them and see if they were equal to ducks? That would have saved a lot of trouble. And why throw them in water? If you just splash them with a bucket, they'll melt.
As mr Rodgers said there is no person in the whole world like u and I like u just the way u are u made this day a special day by just your being u and the best person I will ever be is your honest and kindest self and the world Is a better place cuz u were born into it
Concealed? MACUSA is in the old Woolworth Building, now The Hotel Alexandra.
Im going to Salem next weekend! I am so excited!
Thank you for explaining both the real and Wizarding World witch hunts. It added much-needed context.
But which is a wizard are children of Michael sometimes muggles are the people with the magical jeans and you can't get that children secret from the parents
I have an idea on another theory. What is more powerful, magic or technology?
Just recently came back around to the Harry Potter scene❤
Funny enough I grew up in the time where the books were still being written and in fifth grade I wasn't even allowed to sit in class while the Sorcerer's Stone was being red because of my overly Christian mother😂
what is the flame freezing charm and why would i hide myself from a mudblood when i can bury their body in my garden or feed their bodies to a hippogrif.
I'm a bit disappointed that you did not mention the witch hunts that still take place today in the real world. In many African countries, it is still common for people (mostly children) to be accused of witchcraft. They are often shunned, hurt, or even killed. This is not a problem of the past, and it is not rare. Hundreds of thousands of children are accused of witchcraft every year in Africa. You clearly did a lot of research for this video, so it's disappointing that you did not mention modern witch hunts.
I think you're the one who didn't do well their research. Witches are adored and respected in Africa. The problem is that they actually do sacrifice real living children and people believe that they will be cured of HIV or get wealthy with such sacrifices. Albino children are particularly persecuted because of these believes.
These days we dont have witch hunts in the UK, because we know which witch is which 😂
Most have heard of the Salam Witch trials here in America, but the witch trials actually started and ended in Connecticut where witches were even burned after strangulation. Salem is famous because a governor's wife was accused. But Connecticut was far long and far more people died and were banished. There is even a case with a husband and wife who apparently admitted to the charges and freaked out the court, they were banished instead of being executed for whatever reason. All that was said about them freaking out the court was "proven witchery among the court". So who knows?
A nice bit of mystical history I thought I would share about an obscure happening.
Excellent video ❤
Great video, thank you ❤
Glad you enjoyed it!
Am I the only one who would love some small story spinn off novels, not necessary world-affecting storylines, but just stuff like the Marauders goofing about Hogwarts or the Weasley twins doin stuff
Hey HP Theory, just started watching your videos after playing Hogwarts Legacy. This is probably a silly question, but have you played it yet? If so, it would be cool to see gameplay of that and maybe your take on how well it fits into the actual Harry Potter universe.
I hope you mention Tituba, and the racism she faced during her trial.
Though credit where credit's due, I think they released/banished her, though that could also be a death sentence back then. It seems like they were way more interesting in killing their own wives/women of their own culture. Which actually seems more fair because they're being held to their own standards, but their own standards were sick.
The most notorious element of real world witch hunts is a book known as the Malleus Maleficarum, or "Witch's Hammer", a book used by the Roman Catholic Church to instruct on how to identify and interrogate witches. It should be noted, the real world isn't free of the attitude that made the witch hunts possible. There are still countries with anti-witchcraft laws on their books. In countries where witchcraft is legal, some clergy, especially evangelical and fundamentalist Christian preachers still preach witch hate and false stereotypes from the pulpit. A prime example is Greg Locke. As a Wiccan myself, I find this disturbing, especially since modern witchcraft is intensely benevolent.
It's1984, metaphorically.
Does not make sense how muggles could overpower wizards and witches
My thoughts as well.
Brutal shear force... overwhelming numbers... the element of surprise.
Wizards are powerful but like everyone they have weaknesses that can be explored. One of their weaknesses...their children.
@@winterishere440 I’m convinced jk rowling wrote that the muggles overpowered wizards in the books without thinking it through. A weak wizard could easily destroy a nation
@@Do27gg then you didn't pay attention to much. A Ron Weasley or even Harry could be easily killed by 20 muggles if they decided so. Linching groups are dangerous. If wizards were that "unstoppable" they wouldn't even need to go school to learn magic. JK is very specific about the limitations of a wizards power like they need time and a clear mind to cast a spell. They depend even on their wands to cast powerful spells and they don't have their wands attached to their bodies all the time.
@@Do27ggmeh.
Just knowing that Fred died because some debris fell on him... You realize how fragile wizards really are.
This is why i have sworn to carry out mighty grindlewald's mission once i graduate from hogwarts in 2 years...............i hate muggles 😠 😡
Ah, so you're justifying witch hunts.
@@elliotyourarobotah, so you justified the resulting revenge of grindlewald......
Cause he was acting due to the barbarity of muggles!
@@prabkunvar10 a textbook example of why witch hunters are needed.
@@prabkunvar10very funny
I am watching this video in totality out of respect for the suffering and pain of those affected by the witch hunts. However this video is getting a thumbs down as I did not come here for a history recap and the actual reason I clicked on this video starting nearly halfway through at 8 min 30 seconds.
The modern world is not supposed to have slavery but it does have it even in the United States. I count everyone in Conservatorship or Guardianship who does not actually need it as a slave. I also include the inmates of private prisons as they are required to work and paid little or nothing.
In Saudi Arabia and other countries where Islamic rule is the law of the land witch hunting is STILL going on with less than a preponderance of evidence needed for conviction. Many Saudi convictions are often based political expediency rather than actual guilt.
Yeah
F R A T E R N I S E
Grindelwald was right
Justifying a baby killer...
HP fans scare me...
Humanity hasn't learnt one bit
I still don’t understand what the point of that was in real life since wizards and witches do not exist Not trying to be a Dursley just saying
In the world of Harry Potter the ability to do magic is an ability a person is born with. In this world are there examples of there being witches and wizards in the indigenous tribes?
Could attracting certain animals to oneself be a sign of Witchcraft and Wizardry? For instance, I can attract dogs to me, and can even talk with them! I can even identify any given Breed of Dog, or Mixed Breed Dog, with only the vaguest of description! Is that a sign of Witchcraft and Wizardry?
I have found the belief in witchcraft throughout history very fascinating. And religion was always behind the fear of it (big surprise 🙄😒). Hell, look at the old testament in the bible alone, the Egyptians could supposedly control supernatural forces, which is demonstrated in the story of Moses. He turned his staff into a snake, and the pharoh could do it too. It makes you wonder, what makes one a witch, or welding the power of god? Maybe its the same. Maybe what people perceve as "magic" is a hidden force that we've always had. That's what i believe. We have the capability to control powers we don't fully understand yet, but religion has always held humanity back from seeking it. We've known people who could see the future, that wrote down their visions, but held back on telling the public, because of the church. Remember, truth is stranger than fiction.
Well, yeah, if you think about it, Jesus would be a wizard and necromancer 😅
@@allgomesareevil6121 exactly. Maybe what humanity sees as "magic" is simply a force they don't fully understand. Like Jesus was. But later on it became a bad thing. Anyone who could do "magic" was thought to be a witch, and/or possessed by demons or Satan. I don't know where people got the idea to kill the "possessed" would kill the demon? I guess people just began believing that only Jesus could weild that kind of power for the good of humanity. Everyone else was evil and supposedly set to destroy it, I guess.
Witch hunting in a world where magic exists it justified, as they pose a danger to anyone and everyone.
My 9x Great-Grandfather was Giles Cory! He was crushed to death during the Salem Witch Trials! When one of your direct lined family member has been unnecessarily murdered by STUPIDITY--then and only then do you have any right to declare that any Witch Hunt is justified!
@@nanabutnerYou talking in reality or fantasy?
No. It isn't justified.
@@elliotyourarobot Absolute Reality! I even placed flowers on his memorial marker in Salem by the old cemetery where my 9xGreat-Grandmother-Giles-first wife is buried. She died a few years before the Salem Witch Trials.
@@moniqueduval6441 Why?
I'll have you know newt scamander is innocent he would not that he's a good guy how dare you say stuff about him that's not true.
The Pendle Witches were the first witch hunts to ever have happened in 1612, way before the salem with trials... the KIng James bible even mentions them.
I've read the Bible, but I don't remember it mentioning witch hunts. Could you site the verse, please?
The strange irony of today, even in paganism, and even in politics. The same rainbow of promise and prosperity is also met with such labels and stereotypes.
Misogyny you say? Try Misandry!
😊🎉🏞🏜
Who else will keep the witch in check?
The magical Patriarchy
@@ANGEL_BOB_YT Who keeps them in check?