Salem: Episode 1

 Salem: Episode 1

After watching the first episode of the TV series Salem, a few key points stood out to me. First, I thought it was interesting to see the shows depiction of Tituba, who is much younger than the historical representation. Likewise, she appears to speak English well, which is contradictory to what we learned in class. In the show, Tituba is actually the one teaching Mary different magic spells, which is blatantly false from a historical lens. Based on this first episode, it appears as though Mary has a power element over the other characters, which could not be farther from the truth compared to those actually persecuted for witchcraft, who are helpless as they receive their sentences. The producers of the show have combined the characters of Mary Walcott and Mary Sibley to form a fictional character that remains in control at all times. Next, I think the target audience of this show is those who are seeking more of an entertainment outlet rather than accurate historical information. Although the show is highly entertaining, and a bit gruesome at times, it should not be taken as non-fiction on a correct portrayal of Salem in 1692.