A Deed without a Name - The Witch in Society and History

Macbeth: 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.>

List of contents

Contents: Power and the Witch -- The Witch and Society -- The Idea of the Witch -- Detecting the Witch -- Witch Suspects: Suspicions Based upon the Personal Qualities of Suspects -- Witch Suspects: Suspicions Rooted in the Structural Position of the Accused -- Labelling the Witch -- Witchcraft, Power and Wealth -- European Witch: Maleficium and Demonology -- The Great Witch Craze -- Our Contemporary Witches

About the author

Andrew Sanders University of Ulster at Coleraine

Product details

• Authors: Andrew Sanders
• Publisher: Berg Publishers Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.11.1995
• EAN: 9781859730539
• ISBN: 978-1-85973-053-9
• No. of pages: 244
• Dimensions: 138 mm x 216 mm x 13 mm
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > Politics, society, business > Politics; Social sciences, law, business > Social sciences (general); SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology of Religion, BODY, MIND & SPIRIT / Witchcraft, Anthropology, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / General, RELIGION / Demonology & Satanism, Satanism & demonology, Witchcraft and wicca, Witchcraft & Wicca, Satanism and demonology