Witches: Their Bloody History, and Why I Love Them Anyway

by Corliss Jacobs

Humanity’s fear of witchcraft stretches all the way back to the fifteenth century. They were thought to be women who made pacts with the Devil for otherworldly powers, using them to terrorize innocent townsfolk. This, unfortunately, led to the deaths of thousands of women (and some men) who did nothing wrong. In spite of the unfortunate origin of witches, they have since evolved into figures that are more fun — child-eaters for fairy tales, heroic magic users for Harry Potter, and cute little girls who keep cats and make bubbly potions. Because of how the conception of witches has changed, I adore reading, writing, and talking about them! 

From strictly a writing standpoint, witches are wonderful because of their variety. The fictional characters that got me into these mystical women are Macbeth’s Weird Sisters. At twelve years old, I was in awe of their power, mystique, and the simple fact that they were cunning enough to win. They wanted to nudge Macbeth onto the path of a tyrant, and it worked like a charm. Many witches have similar sinister roles in stories, such as the Snow Queen and Hansel and Gretel’s witch. But the character possibilities don’t stop there. In the Studio Ghibli film Kiki’s Delivery Service, we are introduced to a witch of a different flavor. Kiki is a little girl in a big city, using her magic to start her own business and find her footing in life. There is nothing in this story as dramatic or terrifying as Macbeth, just Kiki overcoming her self-doubt. This darling little magic-user brings on the cozy, cutesy style of witches. Other witches turn the original villainous tone on its head entirely, spearheaded by Hermione Granger and Luna Lovegood from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter. These witches use their magic for good, becoming great heroes of the wizarding world. I love every single one of these characters, each a different mold of witch but wonderful in their own right. 

Another reason I love witches is a common detail all the types share — magic. A part of me still believes in fairies — I make it a point to never enter a circle of mushrooms, in case I am kidnapped by the fae. I love believing in magic, and the existence of enchantresses and witchcraft automatically proves the existence of magic in many stories, allowing me to imagine it in real life, too! It’s fun to imagine having my own abilities to fight evil with. Unfortunately, I still haven’t gotten my Hogwarts letter, so I’ll have to settle for reading about, writing about, and believing in the possibility of incredible women with fantastical powers. That’s more empowering than the medieval witch treatment, don’t you think? 

My Grammy has always called herself a witch. Not because she practices magic, but she adores the aesthetic of witches — black hats, cauldrons, broomsticks. It certainly helps that she was born on Halloween, too! My whole life, she's been our family witch, which little me found super fun! The vibe of witches has changed from sinister to fun-filled in many cases, evoking images of cozy October nights and bubbling potions and purring cats. Creepy cute things are a personal favorite of mine, so this facet of witches is a big reason why I love them — and my Grammy! 

Now, keep in mind this is only my opinion. Many parents don’t abide the talk of witches at all in their house. Others find witches to be a symbol of oppression and sexism, and therefore shun the new era of witches entirely. I completely understand these views, as every household has their own unique beliefs and standards. My belief is that witches are a fun area of fiction and costumes to explore! I of course acknowledge their very unfortunate origin, but it’s amazing that they have changed into such clever, adorable, and powerful figures over the years... so much so that little girls can now dress up just like them without fear. I don't know about you, but that's a historical and cultural marvel to me!