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Go in the Devil's Name: When Isobel Gowdie Confessed to Being a Witch

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Re: Go in the Devil's Name: When Isobel Gowdie Confessed to Being a Witch

#3

Post by ludston »

Perhaps she knew that we would read her words, all of these centuries later, and see her for the bright, creative human being that she was. I hope she would take some solace knowing that we of the future see her condemnation as unjust, stupid and evil.

Re: Go in the Devil's Name: When Isobel Gowdie Confessed to Being a Witch

#5

Post by batch12 »

ludston wrote: post #3

Perhaps she knew that we would read her words, all of these centuries later, and see her for the bright, creative human being that she was. I hope she would take some solace knowing that we of the future see her condemnation as unjust, stupid and evil.

Its a nice thought, but I cant make myself believe it. It seems more likely to me that her words were coerced or forced and she was manipulated into confession. I imagine she was saying whatever she thought she needed to in the short term to appease her interrogators with no thought to future readers who had no power to save her. Poor woman.

Re: Go in the Devil's Name: When Isobel Gowdie Confessed to Being a Witch

#6

Post by Communitivity »

An amazing woman, and a sad story we still see repeated today. I'm reminded of the story of a Wiccan in S.C. who had some neighborhood punks shooting into her home's windows from the street. When she called the cops they asked 'You're the witch right? Uh, huh. We'll send someone when we can.", and three hours later they did.

To Isobel. Slàinte,a ghràdhachadh nan sìthichean

Re: Go in the Devil's Name: When Isobel Gowdie Confessed to Being a Witch

#7

Post by ye-olde-sysrq »

ynab5 wrote: post #4

[flagged]

I know you're not posting in good faith but I do want to underline two things, in case anyone else is reading this who is similarly dismissive as OP:

- they did kill her

- she was clearly not a witch, given that they do not exist

And given the dearth of warlock or wizard trials, it is safe to say that this was clearly motivated by sexism - viewing women as far more likely to be agents of Satan, just as Eve handed Adam the apple.

Re: Go in the Devil's Name: When Isobel Gowdie Confessed to Being a Witch

#10

Post by mock-possum »

ye-olde-sysrq wrote: post #7
ynab5 wrote: post #4

[flagged]

I know you're not posting in good faith but I do want to underline two things, in case anyone else is reading this who is similarly dismissive as OP: - they did kill her - she was clearly not a witch, given that they do not exist And given the dearth of warlock or wizard trials, it is safe to say that this was clearly motivated by sexism - viewing women as far more likely to be agents of Satan, just as Eve handed Ada…

> she may have been one of the 300 or more executed. The Privy Council in Edinburgh granted a commission to try her, but there is no record of her death.

They may have killed her. It sounds like they probably did.

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