Biblical and Classical Interpretations of the Witches of The Scarlet Letter :: Scarlet Letter essays

Biblical and Classical Interpretations of the Witches of The Scarlet garner The theme of witchcraft is woven into the fabric of The Scarlet Letter. The previous Custom-Ho manipulation chapter includes an appeal by the author to remove any witches curses on his family. Once he takes us back to the Boston of the 1640s, he frequently hints about the cohorts of the bleak Man who meet in the woods beyond the town. But if the reader understands the classical meaning of the word witchcraft such as used in the Bible and other classical works, then we understand that Hawthorne had something more in mind than the sad cultists like Mistress Hibbins. The real witch of The Scarlet Letter was a far more sinister character, a personality who makes a significant statement about the nature of man. The Greek New will and Septuagint on Witchcraft Witchcraft occurs only once in the King James New Testament and sorcery twice--Galatians 520, Revelation 921 and 1823. The word in the Greek New Testa ment in all three cases is pharmakeia, derived from the word pharmakon (drug), the source of the face word pharmacy and its cognates. The mensuration koin Greek-English Lexicon translates the word as sorcery or magic, but its cognate sorcerer (pharmakous) used in Revelation 218 and 2215 is translated mixer of poisons as well as magician. The root of both words, pharmakon, literally means poison or drug.1 A few key Old Testament passages about witches which are often associated with the puritans such as Exodus 2218 (Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live--KJV) use pharmakous in the Septuagint--the word translated sorcerer in Revelation 218 and 2215.2 The Greek New Testament and the Septuagint version of the Hebrew Scriptures use diametrical words such as mageia (magic) when other types of occult practices like calling on spirits or using curses are meant. In English such words are usually translated wizard, necromancer, or some other appropriate word or phrase.2 Because of the G reek word chosen in each case, it appears that the New Testament authors and Septuagint translators understood the idea of witchcraft in terms of the use of drugs or poisons. Finding the Witch according to this Definition Now thither is a character in The Scarlet Letter who would be convicted of witchcraft, Mistress Hibbins. She characterizes the witch of New England folklore such as we see in Young Goodman Brown.