illustration of a woman in a black dress with long black hair swimming down through the water toward a smaller human figure

The Witch of Blackbird Pond

by Elizabeth George Speare

Start Free Trial

Student Question

What do the townspeople do when illness breaks out in Wethersfield in "The Witch of Blackbird Pond"?

Quick answer:

When illness breaks out in Wethersfield, the townspeople are helpless, unable to find effective remedies. Some, like Matthew Wood, turn to religion, while others, like William Buckeley, try new treatments. In desperation, they blame the illness on scapegoats like the Quaker woman Hannah Tupper, leading to accusations of witchcraft. A mob forms to arrest her, resulting in Kit helping Hannah escape as the townspeople burn Hannah's house, reflecting their suspicion of Quakers.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

The townspeople are essentially helpless in the face of the mysterious illness which breaks out in Wethersfield.  Families have little choice but to stay at home and care for those stricken as best they can, but "none of the familiar remedies (for illness seem) to be of any benefit", and even the "nauseous brew(s)" and bloodletting practices of the surgeons are completely ineffective.  Faced with a phenomenon which they cannot understand, some, like Matthew Wood, seek answers in their religion, and others, like William Buckeley, experiment with innovative treatments such as the application of onion poultices, which actually has a lifesaving effect on Mercy.  In their desperation, some of the townspeople begin to look for a scapegoat for the torment which has befallen them.  Placing the blame on individuals who are looked upon with mistrust because they do not fit into the fabric of their narrow society, these townspeople conclude that their...

Unlock
This Answer Now

Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.

Get 48 Hours Free Access

trials are of a supernatural origin, caused by the strange Quaker woman, Hannah Tupper, and, some suggest, by Kit.  Riding a wave of rising hysteria, the townspeople form a mob to arrest the offending personages and have them tried for witchcraft (Chapter 17).

Approved by eNotes Editorial
An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

In The Witch of Blackbird Pond, how do townspeople react to the illness outbreak?

A serious illness spreads throughout the town of Wethersfield.  Many people fall ill, especially children.  Some even die.  Enraged and confused by this mysterious illness, the townspeople seek someone or something to blame.  They decide that Hannah Tupper, Kit's Quaker friend, is a witch who "put a curse on [their] children" (The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Chapter 17).  Some of the townspeople form an angry mob.  They decide to go to Hannah Tupper's house.

Kit escapes through the night to help Hannah.  She leads the older woman toward the river.  Meanwhile, the townspeople try to shoot Hannah's cat.  Then they set fire to her house.  The mob searches all around for Hannah.  They want to catch her because they assume that she is a witch.  

In that time, many Puritans were suspicious of Quakers.  Quakers were sometimes falsely accused of unsavory activities, such as witchcraft.

Approved by eNotes Editorial