Rabbiea Manzoor

Dr. Burke
ENGL 414
11 November 2014
LSW: Historical Fiction
One element of Witch of Blackbird Ponds historical setting that is essential to the story is that Kit
is going to join her aunt and uncle in their puritan community in America. This element would not fit into
a story that is set in present day because not only are there not many puritan communities, but it also
wouldnt be as suspicious if someone went to join one because there is more transportation and minority
groups these days so she wouldnt have stood out so much. Since the setting was 1687 in America people
were suspicious about where she came from, how she got there, and why she wanted to join the puritan
community.
Another element that worked in this setting but wouldnt work in a modern day setting is that
Goodwife Cruff suspected Kit of being a witch. This was a common accusation for that time period and
setting and was taken extremely seriously. Nowadays people do not believe in witches to this extent and
would not take this kind of accusation so seriously. Since the story is set during a time when witches were
feared and women were accused and killed somewhat frequently, the story has more anticipation and
excitement.
I think a third element that is important to this story is that Kit teaches Prudence how to read and
write. The culture of that time period and setting didnt have many women who were educated and it was
frowned upon to educate women. This element also ties in to the witchcraft aspect because Prudence
proves that she is educated rather than under a spell by reading the Bible as proof. Since witchcraft was
taken so seriously and she was reading the Bible instead of any common book her testimony was taken
seriously and got Kit out of trouble. Without this element, the book wouldnt have worked as well. And
without this setting, the element wouldnt have worked at all because nowadays no one would have
wanted to sentence to death for witchcraft, and reading the Bible wouldnt have served as evidence to get
her out of trouble.