Was the idea of burning witches still around during TS Eliots life, 1888-1965?

Answer 1

No. Witch burning was abolished in the middle of the 17th century.

Answer 2

Well, the *idea* was still there...I mean, you can pick up a book on witch trials and read about the idea. What do you mean? Do you mean, was he influenced by material on witch burning? He wrote that thing about Guy Fawkes, which has definite Pagan overtones (back in the day, they'd burn an effigy of a witch for power or symbolic destruction...the ritual is a little hazy.)

Guy Fawkes Day is November 5, and they burn effigies of Guy Fawkes, a Catholic dude who wanted to blow up Parliament. Like in V for Vendetta. But November 5 is pretty close to Samhain and Halloween (All Hallow's Eve, All Soul's Day, if you go by the Catholic version of the calendar.) Soooo...sounds like one idea got pasted onto another one and they came up with a new holiday.

I think you're asking if he was influenced by Pagan thought or witch trials or witch burning. He could have been--I mean, the books were around and he could have read them. Witchcraft was only made legal in England in, um, 1952? I think it was in the early 50's. He might have read or been a part of the Order of the Golden Dawn (or some splinter of the group) or maybe he read about Aleister Crowley and his cronies.

But the idea's in history...so it'll be there unless it gets expunged from the history books somehow. No telling what-all the guy read if you can't ask him directly.

Answer 3

Sadly they were and still are in some countries. The Witchcraft Act is still enforced in the Republic of Ireland. And there are several countries in Africa that still have anti-witchcraft laws in effect. Although it has been awhile since anyone was burned at the stake, one woman was arrested for witchcraft as recently as 1944. For the most part it wasn't until the 1930s that most of the anti-witchcraft laws were repealed and the "old ways" were allowed to return. This is why Gerald Gardner was the first to publish books about Wicca in the late 30s as no one would publish anything before then.

Blessed Be )O(

Answer 4

I think the last legal witch burning was in the 1700s, but certainly the idea would have continued, especially in more isolated/religiously extreme communities. Still today, you hear of people (even children) murdered for supposedly being witches, it's a very real problem in africa.

Answer 5

I think that the "witch burning" may be reffering to things on a political level. " The Crucibile" was written by Aurther Miller during the years of McCarthyism when everyone was being sold out as a commie.

Answer 6

No, I think this was done in the 1700's

Answer 7

If you read a T S Eliot poem backwards very quickly it says, .......................

Answer 8

im still thinking of doing it now.(the ex mrs)

Answer 9

No. Of course not.