Wicked GirlsBy: Stephanie Hemphill
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hemphill, Stephanie. 2010. WICKED GIRLS: A NOVEL OF THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS. New York, NY. HarperCollins Publishing: ISBN- 978-0-06-185329-6
PLOT SUMMARY
Stephanie Hemphill’s intriguing and mind boggling novel Wicked Girls is a poetic fictional explanation of the Salem witch trials told from the perspectives of Mercy Lewis, Ann Putnam, and Mary Walcott (known as “Margaret” in the story) the three women living in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, that claimed “affliction”. Hemphill’s exceptionally written novel emphasizes the sacrifices one will make for power over others, love from another, and acceptance from anyone. Beginning as an inquisitive game of what the girls' futures hold, the situation became a malicious and unforgettable witch hunt that altered the lives of the citizens of Salem Village forever.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Written in poetic verse, Hemphill’s novel was surprisingly easy to follow with a little bit of patience. Hemphill’s creative imigery and original form of writing allows her readers to see inside the minds of the young woman of Salem, providing a clear understanding of the reasoning behind their deviant and intentionally disobedient behavior.
Embedded in Hemphill’s novel is the disastrous reality of the messy downward spiral that obsessive lying will unveil. Towards the beginning of the novel it seem as if the young women feel their accusations of being “afflicted” are simply an innocent, game “They call it Affliction,” Ann says. “All are in awe of it” “A flash of mischief crosses Ann’s eye’s as she watches me watch her, like the torch that smokes heaven’s white edge.” Not until the falsely accused are being trialed and put to death do the young women feel remorse for the disobedient behavior. “I see nothing. I want to say I see nothing, that I am tired and wish to be left alone, wish to be like the field left fallow this autumn. I stay mute now, but ‘tis too late. What, Lord, have I done?” Hemphill’s descriptive imagery and poetic verses of what the young women are experiencing creates a continuous flow of the changes in emotion and feelings among the group of girls before, during and after the accused witch’s and wizard’s trials. Hemphill’s carefully planned rhythms of short lines have created a staccato rhythm that contributes to the exceptional flow of the novel. We also can't forget about her rhyming word patterns in each passage that create an ear pleasing experience for her readers.
Hemphill’s vivid description of Mercy’s emotional desire to be respected by men, rather than being viewed as a pretty girl to be lusted after, is an example in the novel that makes the reader empathetic towards Mercy’s indiscretion. Mercy’s indiscretions are much more personal than the other young women’s behaviors. Mercy is an orphan due to the French and Indian war. Her mother and father where killed by Indians, leaving her a servant to Thomas Putnam. Mercy also seeks revenge and protection for others from the individuals who killed her family. “I clearly will have to be the driver now. I must hold the whip, bear the cold and steer the carriage. For if I do not, then men like John Alden, who aided in killing my family, and Reverend Burroughs with his wicked hands and nasty belt upon wives and little girls, might also go free. I step up. I wind around my wrists Ann’s slacking ruins.”
During a time when woman and children had no influence on everyday society, Hemphill’s exceptional writing theorizes the idea that these girls accuse innocent people because this was the only way they would be listened to in Salem, or this was the only way they could get revenge on the individuals who physically abused them or they didn’t feel practiced good faith. Twelve year old Ann Putnam, who pedestals herself as Queen of the girls, holds stature in Salem due to being Thomas Putnam’s eldest child. Power is Ann’s motive for accusing the innocent of possessing the young women. Ann obsessed over the fact that powerful men in authoritative positions listened to the young women’s accusations as if they had a voice. The town’s people looked to them for answers and insight into the “Invisible World”. The young women held just as much power in the trials as the men did, if not more, because they were the only ones who could see the” Invisible World.”
Margaret Walcott, who is Ann’s cousin, faces one of the toughest decisions she will have to make in her life. Margaret is desperately in love and consumed with fury and jealousy. Hemphill’s descriptive imagery and poetic verse gives her readers a sense of the gut-wrenching turmoil that Margret experiences during her rage of jealousy. Hemphill has captured the reality of life’s tough choices through Margaret’s character traits and the choice of staying true to her friends or pursuing a life of happiness with the one she loves. In Hemphill’s novel, Margaret faced the same decisions about love and friendship that many adolescents face today.
Worthy of addressing is the “bad girl” personalities and attitude that is very loud among Ann, Mercy and Margaret that seems to jump right of the page at the reader. Hemphill’s writing depicts a serious issue of “bullying” within the group of girls. There are instances such as pulling of each other’s hair and jabbing each other with their elbows, to the remarks Ann makes about Susannah’s weight. Susannah is a older girl who joins the group for a short while that isn’t from Salem. An example of this behavior is Ann’s remark towards Susannah, "Want some?” I offer her a piece of my bread. No doubt she’ll take it.” Ann is insinuating that Susannah is “fat” and that she will eat anything she is given. Who can forget the extremely unnecessary incident of Ann and Elizabeth hatefully killing Mercy’s dog “Wilson” to teach Mercy a lesson? “I stare at Elizabeth as they shoot him, a creature without growl or bite, but only lying there in the sun.” “My sweet dog’s blood flood’s the ground, pooling toward Ann’s feet, but she remains unmoved.” Hemphill’s writing captures the vicious behaviors of this group of young women in the 1600’s, which unfortunately shares some of the same cruel characteristics of bulling among young children today.
The cover of Hemphill’s book is an image of a beautiful blonde adolescent touching her four head and looking towards the earth, who seems confused and distressed. The image of the adolescent woman makes readers curious as to why the adolescent seems to feel the way she does. The image pulls readers in with a sense of curiosity and wonder that makes the novel that much more intriguing and mysterious.
Wicked Girls is a fabulously written and outstanding historical fictional novel that girls of all ages can enjoy and learn from. They may even relate to the young woman of Salem, Massachusetts. Hemphill has created an intriguing novel that would be great for curling up next to a fire, and becoming a spectator in the lives of the young woman of Salem as they exclaim their afflictions.
EXCEPT(S)
Booklist- Starred Review- “An excellent supplementary choice for curricular studies of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, this will also find readers outside the classroom, who will savor the accessible, unsettling, piercing lines that connect past and present with timeless conflict and truths.”
Kirkus- Starred Review- “In subtle, spare first-person free-verse poems, the author skillfully demonstrates how ordinary people may come to commit monstrous acts. Haunting and still frighteningly relevant.”
Publishers Weekly- Starred Review- “The expressive writing, masterful tension, and parallels to modern group dynamics create a powerful and relevant page-turner.”
School Library Journal - Starred Review- “The verse format is fresh and engaging, distilling the actions of the seven accusing girls into riveting narrative.”
CONNECTIONS
Related Reading Material:
Salem Witch Trials: An Unsolved Mystery from History – by: Jane Yolen - ISBN: 0689846207
In Search of History: Salem Witch Trials - History Channel DVD
Resource for Activates:
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schooladventures/salemwitchtrials/tips.html
Activity 1:
20th Century Witch Hunts
Discuss the definition of a witch hunt with your class. A witch hunt occurs any time a group of people persecutes another group unfairly, usually blaming that group for larger problems. Ask students to think of examples of “witch hunts” during the 20th century—such as the Holocaust, the McCarthy trials, and the Japanese internment camps. Have students research a modern-day witch hunt and compare and contrast it with the Salem witch trials.
Discuss the definition of a witch hunt with your class. A witch hunt occurs any time a group of people persecutes another group unfairly, usually blaming that group for larger problems. Ask students to think of examples of “witch hunts” during the 20th century—such as the Holocaust, the McCarthy trials, and the Japanese internment camps. Have students research a modern-day witch hunt and compare and contrast it with the Salem witch trials.
Activity 2
Letters from Salem
Have students explore the biographies and primary source documents in People Behind the Trials. Ask students to choose one featured person and try to imagine themselves in his or her shoes. What motivated their actions? What do you think they were thinking or feeling? Have each student write a letter from the person they chose. Their letters could be written to real people from Salem or to a fictional person.
Have students explore the biographies and primary source documents in People Behind the Trials. Ask students to choose one featured person and try to imagine themselves in his or her shoes. What motivated their actions? What do you think they were thinking or feeling? Have each student write a letter from the person they chose. Their letters could be written to real people from Salem or to a fictional person.
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