Rachel Dyer (1828)The Salem witch trials, a shameful episode in early New England history, provided a salient theme for several nineteenth-century American writers, including John Greenleaf Whittier and John William De Forest. Novelist and reformer John Neal (1793-1876) was an advocate of, among other causes, female suffrage and capital punishment reform. His novel, Rachel Dyer (1828) deals with the hysteria and scapegoating that surrounded the trials. Mixing drama with history, Neal exposes, through his protagonists, the still explosive issues of injustice and religious bigotry. |
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Abigail Paris accused afar afeard afflicted afraid appear beautiful believe beseech bewitched blood brave breath Bridget Pope Bridgy brother Casco Bay charge chief judge child church confess courage court creature dare dead dear death door Dorcas Hoare earth escape eyes face faith father fear forever forgive George Burroughs grave guilty hair hand head hear heard heart hope innocent Iroquois JOHN NEAL Judith Hubbard jury knew knife live look Lord Martha Mary Dyer Mary Elizabeth Dyer Mary Walcott Matthew Matthew Paris mouth multitude Neal Neal's never night oath persuade pity poor prayer preacher prisoner proof pursued Quakers Rachel Dyer reply Robert Eveleth Salem Salem Village savages shadow shape sister sorrow speak speech spoke stood story sure thing Thomas Fisk thought Tituba told trial truth voice whisper whole wife witch witchcraft witnesses woman word youth