| “ | We have been ruled by witches all along. And not, as we thought, from the outside, but in the very worst way; from within. Witches ruled Salem from the very top. Names like Sibley and Marburg turned out to be masks for the most notorious witches. Witches who very nearly succeeded in turning Salem into Hell on earth and handing our entire new country over to the Devil himself. | ” |
A witch is a person who made a deal with the Devil and who derive their power from the Devil they worship.
Description
Witchcraft is the practice of dark magic whose adherents are alternatively called "witches". According to Reverend Increase Mather, the practice of Witchcraft dates as far back to the Beginning of humankind. These implications were somewhat confirmed by the Countess Von Marburg who expressed how Eve was the first to "follow the Serpent", later by her husband Adam, and their children. [1] Since then, witches have existed for many centuries passing down their knowledge and skills through generations in family lines.
Physiology
Upon coming into their dark powers, it appears that the metabolic functions of a witch exceed that of an ordinary person. For starters, it prevents the build-up of poisons within their bodies. Mary Sibley was also able to trick the townsfolk about the poisonous nature of a potion intended for her husband by drinking it, thus making them believe it was just a mere tonic.
Her protégé Mercy Lewis was also resistant to poisoning. Whilst hiding in the Crags from Increase Mather, Mercy ate the decayed flesh of several corpses without exhibiting any signs of illness or negative side-effects. [2] Moreover, these physical enhancements might also explain how Mercy Lewis was able to survive the fire that easily killed all of her disciples but failed to kill the witch herself. Although Mercy learned from the Countess how to accelerate the healing process through the use of blood baths, her wounds and burns would have eventually healed on their own, albeit to a much slower pace given the gravity of her wounds. [3] [4]
Since they are still human, witches do share many of the same weaknesses as ordinary mortals. However, it is known that especially powerful witches can overcome these weaknesses. For example, Countess Palatine Ingrid Von Marburg has been able to cheat death for thousands of years by casting a powerful preservation spell over her own relic. [5] Because of this, the Countess is impervious to permanent death and can resurrect herself time and time again, so long as her relic is not destroyed. Furthermore, it appears that every witch develops physical enhancements upon their initiation, but to a lesser degree than that of the Countess. These refinements include: cellular regeneration, durability, senses, speed, and strength. After several hours of brutal torture from the infamous Increase Mather, Tituba was seen days later having most, if not all, of her wounds completely healed. [6] Mary Sibley has also endured multiple injuries since her initiation into Witchcraft, all of which have completely healed shortly after the wounds were first inflicted.
Weaknesses
Based on the fact that witches are still human, they share many of the same weaknesses as ordinary mortals, i.e. age, decapitation, disease, heart-failure, suffocation, etc. However, it is known that especially powerful witches can overcome many of these weaknesses and have even managed to achieve pseudo-immortality. Nevertheless, even the mightiest of witches are by no means without limitations and are still susceptible to other events and forces that can be used against them, including the magics of antagonistic witches. For example, according to Reverend Cotton Mather, a witch can be rendered powerless through the binding of dead wood and iron.[7] The influence of Saturn forces witches to speak the truth, and several herbs such as Valerian are implemented by witch hunters and others in counter-magic or for protection.[8]
All witches are, then, susceptible to their Dark Lord, who can revoke all of their powers.[9]
Classifications
Contract Witch
A "Contract witch" is any person who has obtained their magic from the Devil. These witches are known to have summoned the Devil and made a deal with him in exchange for power. While it is common for these witches to have traded their souls for power, it has been implied that not all witches sell their souls, but rather promise the Devil something else of value. According to Countess Von Marburg, contract witches are very common within their community, possibly even more so than cradle witches. Nevertheless, contract witches are considered inferior to cradle witches and do not come into their power as easily nor as quickly as cradle witches.[10]
Note: While Countess Von Marburg believes that witches who are born are superior to witches who are made, because the Countess failed to elaborate how or why she believes this to be, it remains unknown as to whether or not contract witches truly are inferior to cradle witches, or if the Countess' statements were based entirely on her own biased point of view.
Cradle Witch
A "Cradle witch" is any person who has obtained their magic from biological development. Not much is known about these witches apart from the fact that they are known to have been born with an internal source of power and seem to have a natural affinity to the supernatural forces within the universe. While Countess Von Marburg believes that witches who are born are superior to witches who are made, it has not been stated exactly how or why. However, according to Tituba, witches such as Anne Hale who are born from old and powerful bloodlines, will come into their power easier and faster than witches who are made. Tituba explained to Mary Sibley that in spite of being the most powerful witch in Salem, and with more years of experience in Witchcraft, Anne Hale would still surpass Mary within a matter of weeks in terms of raw power. [11]
Note: According to Mary Sibley, all witches are required to meet the Devil as a prerequisite for the power that is given to them. While a contract witch must summon the Devil themselves, this is not the case with cradle witches, as the Devil will appear to them on his own terms. How and when the Devil will appear to them remains unknown, however, based off of a letter written by John Hale for his daughter, it was implied that after a cradle witch becomes of age and grows into their power, the Devil will appear to them sometime after this.
Government
| “ | True leadership is the power to deal both life and death, whereas men can only ever wield half that power; the easy part. Now, among the wise, real authority descends through women. | ” |
Witches gather in small communities known as hives or covens, and governed according to a specific hierarchy. Each hive can further develop its own rules, customs and traditions. In the words of Countess Von Marburg, matriarchy is the wisest form of government as far as real authority is concerned since it is women who give birth to their successors.[1]
Increase Mather once stated that covens of witches are no different from Christian congregations and denominations, and consist of internal factions often in rivalry with each other.[12] According to Magistrate John Hale, it is in the full right of an Elder to kill a captive witch to prevent them, under torture, from revealing the identity of their accomplices.[13] To ensure control over members of a given hive, the chief witch or Samhain retains personal belongings of each member to hex them should the need arise.[14]
The Samhain
- Main article: Samhain
Mary Sibley as the Samhain
The Samhain is the leader and highest ranking governmental body within a hive, and has existed for several centuries.
According to Mary Sibley, the Samhain is not only responsible for the protection of their hive, but also to preserve the Old Ways. Whenever one of the witches dies, their Book of Shadows finds its way to the Samhain so that it does not fall into the wrong hands. Furthermore, it is known that whoever claims the head of a fallen Samhain will become the next leader. It is also known that whoever is believed to the next most suitable witch for the position will become the Samhain.
The Elders
The Elders are are the second in command of the Hive, and are commonly known for creating and enforcing the laws of the coven. Aside from this, the Elders are charged with choosing victims, conducting meetings, preserving instruments and educating new witches in their arcane arts. Tituba told Mary that the Essex elders were the last to know their history from the Old Country. [15] The Essex elders were also amongst the few survivors of the European witch craze, responsible for settling in Salem and for choosing Mary Sibley to complete the Grand Rite.
Magical Powers
- Main article: Powers
| “ | I, too, came into my powers in the wake of great and painful loss. And I remember what it was first like to feel my body from within, like a fever in the blood. That I could now do things, do things with words, with gestures. | ” |
— Mary Sibley about Powers[src]
| ||
According to Reverend Cotton Mather, the power of a witch is not only dependent on the source of their magic, but also on their knowledge and training in Witchcraft. While it appears that all witches obtain their magic from the Devil, not all witches have the same experience or expertise in the Dark Arts, nor do they share the same powers. According to Cotton Mather, the primary sources of power that almost all witches draw from are death and lust. They get the former from their sacrifices and the latter from their own sexual arousal.[16]
Furthermore, while some witches, such as the Essex hive, have been known to provide laws for their coven and themselves, other witches, such as the Baron Sebastian and Countess Palatine Ingrid Von Marburg, have shown more leniency in regard to their power, and have demonstrated extraordinary feats without fear or concern for possible consequences.
Magical Tools
- Main article: Witch's Tools
The Malum.
Poppets.
Witches use a broad range of instruments in their magic. While Spell Casting is the medium every witch must use in order to achieve a magical effect, almost all spells require additional ingredients and circumstances to work. What these tools are differ from spell to spell, as one spell might only require the bloodshed of a familiar while another spell might require the creation of a poppet. Furthermore, while some of them can be reused for various different spells, it appears that some instruments such as the Clock of the Doom and the Malum may only be used for the specific purpose for which they were created. Nevertheless, one of the most important objects of a witch is their Books of Shadows, a journal filled with personal discoveries and experiences.
Notable Witches
| Witch | Description | Class |
|---|---|---|
 |
Countess Marburg is an ancient witch and among the first of her kind. She is the mother of Sebastian Von Marburg and Anne Hale. | Cradle |
 |
Sebastian was the son of Countess Marburg and the brother of Anne Hale. He was a powerful cradle witch. | Cradle |
 |
The Essex Elder was the spokeswoman and presumably the leader of the Widdershins. | Unknown |
 |
The Hags were witches and Elders of the Essex Hive. | Unknown |
 |
Rose Browning was a witch and the Samhain of the Essex Hive. | Unknown |
 John Hale |
Magistrate John Hale was the father of Anne Hale and a cradle witch from an old bloodline. | Cradle |
 |
Mary Sibley was the most powerful contract witch produced by the Essex Hive, and its Samhain. She was stripped of all her powers by the Devil and is no longer a witch. | Contract Rescinded |
 |
Tituba is the house slave of Mary Sibley and also a very powerful witch. She later acquired the powers of a Seer. | Contract |
 |
Anne Hale is the daughter of John Hale and Countess Von Marburg and also an extremely powerful cradle witch. | Cradle |
 |
Mercy Lewis was a witch who obtained her power under the guidance of Mary Sibley. | Contract |
 John Sibley
|
John Sibley was the son of John Alden and Mary Sibley and the vessel to the Dark Lord. | Cradle |
For a complete list of all the witches who have appeared in the series, see Witches.
Memorable Quotes
- Cotton Mather: “If she speaks an ancient unknowable tongue — she be a witch! If he has the Devil's mark — he be a witch! If she is the source of affliction, maladies and conjuration — she be a witch. If she uses her beauty to tempt to ruin people of Salem to commit sins of the flesh — she be a witch! I have but one thing to say to the condemned souls that plague this God-fearing colony — You. Will. Burn!”
- — WGN Salem Promo Teaser
- Cotton Mather: “The Devil was never going to let a promised land be built here without a fight, without a battle! And witches armed with deadly malice are the most malignant and insidious weapons in that battle! In that war.”
- Cotton Mather: “Even a single witch in Salem is enough to destroy everything we have built and ever hope to build here! Now, we have already killed three of them, and yet their malice continues unabated. Why? Because there are still witches here among us!”
- Cotton Mather: “Imagine a foe you can't see armed with weapons unknown and the ability to appear as any one of us!”
- Mary Sibley: “There is something worse than a witch hunt. A witch.”
- — The Vow
- Mary Sibley: “And what about witches? Do they have souls, too?“
- Cotton Mather: “They do. But they have deeded them to the Devil himself in exchange for powers and all that they desire.“
- Mary Sibley: “A contract? Ironic, as I believe, by law, a woman's not allowed to enter a contract but through the agency of their husband.“
- Cotton Mather: “Not all witches are women.“
- — The Vow
- Captain Alden: “What if the witches were not the common folk? Not those who trapped our food nor birthed our babies? What if the witches were those we've entrusted to lead? A member, perhaps, of our most esteemed board?”
- — Survivors
- Tituba: “Tell me, who started this war between witches and Puritans? The scattered few of them or the mighty many of you?”
- Tituba: “Don't you see? There are no witches! Only poor people like me, hunted and harried, tortured and murdered, and for no reason other than they are not you!”
- — The House of Pain
- Anne Hale: “Living in Salem and not believing in witches is like living in London and not believing in fog. It is to deny what is right in front of you.”
- — Cat and Mouse
- Shaman: “They seek to wake Him. They think they can control it but it will destroy them.“
- Anne Hale: “Just because I may bear certain unasked for traits doesn't make me a witch any more than owing a knife makes one a butcher!”
- — Cry Havoc
- Mercy Lewis: “Nothing new under the Sun. That which is done unto us must be done unto others. That is the way of the world. To everything, there is a season, a time to every purpose in Hell. A time to reap, a time to sow. Yes. The season of the witch.”
- — Book of Shadows
- Mary Sibley: “He must appear to each of us. It is the prerequisite for all the power he grants. I know, his is a rough magic, indeed. But he proves that what does not kill us, makes us stronger.”
- — Til Death Do Us Part
- Countess Von Marburg: “The first and best of women, our mother Eve, followed the Serpent. And ever since, small-minded men have tormented us. Did you ever ask yourself what kind of a God plants a tree bearing the fruit of true knowledge, only to forbid his creation to partake?”
- — Midnight Never Come
- The Dark Lord “To the Reaper, all flesh is grass. Even witch flesh.”
- — After the Fall
Notes
- Adam Simon explained there is a difference in power not only between cradle and other witches, but also in the vast array of magical practitioners. Contrary to popular belief, one does not need to be a witch in order to practice magic. Witch is a term that denotes a Devil's worshipper but others use other forms of magic and counter-magic such as Shamans, seers, Cunning Ones and healers by relying on the help from other Beings of Power, nature or their own inner life force.[17]
Trivia
- Some witches are based on historical people in Salem ― Mart Walcott, Tituba, John Hale, Mercy Lewis, and Mr Stoughton.
- Tituba, Giles Corey and Bridget Bishop are based on real people accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials.
- The term "warlock" is never used to describe a male witch. While other terms, such as "Necromancer" is used to describe witches who practice necromancy, it seems that "witch" is a gender-neutral term that is applied to both men and women. In the third season, some witches have been referred to by the Devil as "Night's Black Agents."
- In the series, the number of female witches is higher than their male counterparts.
References
See Also
| |||||