The Puritan Religion of New England

Abstract

Beginning with an overview of the Reformation, the chapter places the religious beliefs of the family portrayed in The Witch in historical context. The chapter provides the necessary background for those unfamiliar with the Puritan religious tradition to understand the animating fears and anxieties of the family. The chapter includes a summary of the particularities of New England Puritan religious history and beliefs, Anne Hutchinson, and the Salem witch trials.