“…To be credited with power is power…the lure of power tempts…to court the accusation of witchcraft and to boast of having effected the destruction of their enemies. The stakes may be high, but the prize is dear.”
“…those who believe in witchcraft easily believe themselves capable of it and confess to it…”
-Mary Douglas, 1970[1]
[1] Mary Douglas, Witchcraft Confessions & Accusations (London: Tavistock Publications, 1970) pg. 184
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ReplyDeleteAfter reading the entire piece, I think two of the most striking aspects of Paula de Equiluz's life were the ridiculousness of the accusations leveled against her and how she actually seemed to thrive and assimilate herself with the culture to both evade the penalties and to regain the spotlight. Overall, the influence of culture that came to the African slaves into Latin America does seem that it played a key part in the culture other Africans brought to the US! Good article and good read!
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