Witchcraft and Science in the Renaissance: the witch of edmonton, the late lancashire witches and Renaissance

Abstract

Though foundational theories of modem science emerged during the Renaissance, the arguttbly nonscientific bdiefs in witchcraft and the consequent jxrsecution of zoitches coexisied with these incipient, rationalistic scientific theories. This coexistence centered around the notion of control, as patriarchal members of ruling classes asserted their auihority, simultaneously persecuting "witches" and focusing on the mechanism of science. Two seventeenth-century plays, The Witch of Edmonton and The Late Lancashire Witches, reflect this dichotomy, suggesting an unwavering belief in mtches but subtly hinting that their persecution has perhaps gone too far. The plays idtimatdy reflect a transition betvxen animism and mechanical control, community and individuality, showcasing societal change during the emergence of "neto" science.