In Defense of Witches

In Defense of Witches: The Legacy of the Witch Hunts and Why Women Are Still on Trial

By Mona Chollet
St. Martin's Press, 2022. 304 pages. Nonfiction

Mona Chollet celebrates the witch as a symbol of female rebellion and independence in the face of misogyny and persecution.

Centuries after the infamous witch hunts that swept through Europe and America, witches continue to hold a unique fascination for many: as fairy tale villains, practitioners of pagan religion, as well as feminist icons. Witches are both the ultimate victim and the stubborn, elusive rebel. But who were the women who were accused and often killed for witchcraft? What types of women have centuries of terror censored, eliminated, and repressed?

Celebrated feminist writer Mona Chollet explores three types of women who were accused of witchcraft and persecuted: the independent woman, since widows and celibates were particularly targeted; the childless woman, since the time of the hunts marked the end of tolerance for those who claimed to control their fertility; and the elderly woman, who has always been an object of at best, pity, and at worst, horror. Examining modern society, Chollet concludes that these women continue to be harassed and oppressed. Rather than being a brief moment in history, the persecution of witches is an example of society's seemingly eternal misogyny, while women today are direct heirs to those who were hunted down and killed for their thoughts and actions.

With fiery prose and arguments that range from the scholarly to the cultural, In Defense of Witches seeks to unite the mythic image of the witch with modern women who seek to live their lives on their own terms.

We've all been exposed to differing types of witches in recent pop culture, from the good to the evil. Because of that, how we view witches has shifted greatly in the last several decades; however, to be called a witch at any other time was a death sentence. A single, independent women who thought for herself was often accused of witchcraft and burned. Even a small physical imperfection, such as a birth mark, would place a women on the pyre. (While reading this book, I had the haunting realization that some of my own physical features would have brought me to the witches' pyre.) Knowledgeable women, especially those who were healers and midwives, were seen as a threat to men and were burned at the stake. The historical witch hunts shared in this book are brutal. And unfortunately, we see similar judgements today. Chollet brings to light the sexism and misogyny that still exists. Women might not fear the pyre, but shaming and gaslighting are the punishments of modern day.

With her passionate and intellectual prose, Chollet inspires modern individuals to challenge societal expectations about women's marital status, their parental status, and the definition of beauty. Embrace your long silver locks. Don't feel lesser because you are single. Feel empowered to make your own decision about children. Don't be afraid to be powerful.

Originally published in French with the title Sorcières in 2018, In Defense of Witches was translated into English and published in 2022. Because of her background, there are many references to French writers, philosophers, articles, and people we might not recognize; however, there are still many familiar references.

Feminist who are interested in the history of witch hunts, women's studies, and witchy books will want to delve into this book.

If you like In Defense of Witches you might also like:

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JJC