SH+P6+2014-15+Demonologie+(1587)

Aim: Rachel Huston

The idea of demons was created to bring fear to children and adults imaginations, but Daemonologie by King James I was created to not only spook children, but for other important reasons as well. King James was noted to have “considered himself to be an intellect. In particular James saw himself as an expert on witchcraft”(“James I and Witchcraft”). Through this, he was compelled to write many works of literature, one of which includes Daemonologie. Daemonologie was published sometime in the late 1500’s, and it is stated in the opening preface, “The fearefull aboundinge at this time in this countrie, of these detestable slaues of the Deuill, the Witches or enchaunters, hath moved me (beloued reader) to dispatch in post, this following treatise of mine”(James I 1). King James I makes the relation between demons, witches, and enchanters, and how they are the all very real. This supports how King James I supported witch trials and was very anti any being that had anything to do with the devil or demons, such as the ones mentioned in the preface of his book. Because of that viewpoint, it can be seen that King James reflected this into his book to influence society. And because he had this hatred and fear of witches and those related to the devil, he wanted to make a book to turn all the citizens on his side to eliminate all witches and demonic creatures. The book strongly influences the audience and would for sure be able to change the opinions of the readers with ease. King James I was also a very influential man who needed the approval of the civilians of the country to agree with him so he could stay in power. King James I created the book, Daemonologie in order to have his subjects to agree with ideologies about lifestyles of people around the world, and so more people would support his ideas and therefore, support him.

Works Cited “Daemonologie.” //Wikipedia//. Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Jan. 2015. Web. 5 Jan. 2015. James I, King of England. //Daemonologie//. 1597. Edinburgh, 2008. PDF e-book. “James I and Witchcraft.” //HistoryLearningSite.// n.p., 2014. Web. 5 Jan. 2015.

Audience: Cassie Price

The use of demons in Shakespeare’s Macbeth are used for dramatic effect. This effect is portrayed through Holinshed’s odd sisters and is intended “to instill trepidation in the audience”(Mabillard). Originally, Holinshed’s sisters were described as beautiful, nymph-like women, but Shakespeare warped their image into creature-like hags. However, Shakespeare also targeted Macbeth towards King James I, and “In Macbeth, Shakespeare seeks to flatter and please the King in various ways”(“Macbeth: Background” 2). King James had written a paper titled Daemonologie, so of course Shakespeare included the subject to appease the King. At the time, witchcraft and demons were taken very seriously by the people of Europe, so by incorporating these subjects into Macbeth, Shakespeare gave the play a certain shock factor to the regular audience and flattery to the king.

Works Cited Mabillard, Amanda. //Shakespeare online//. n.p., 20 Aug. 2000. Web. 5 Jan. 2015. “Macbeth: Background.” //BBC//. BBC, n.d. Web. 5 Jan. 2015.

Historical: Hunter Whitlow The belief and study of demonologie has impacted society and governments in various ways over the course of history. Belief in witchcraft and prosecution stemmed largely from King James I of England. According to HistoryLearningSite.co.uk, “after 1590 and in the last thirteen years of the reign of James, Scotland fully accepted the Christian witch theory so that when one witch was found, others were hunted out” (“James I and Witchcraft” 1). The so-called “witches” that developed out of belief in demonologie were hunted down one after the other. The king himself was the cause of this, showing how dangerous this study and belief is that it had penetrated into the mind of the ruler. The most well-known cases of demon prosecution are of witches. The second example, and the most well-known, is the Salem Witch Trials. These were, according to Wikipedia, “a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. The trials resulted in the executions of twenty people, most of them women” (“Salem Witch Trials” 1). Twenty people died for no other reason than the people and government believed in witchcraft. These trials were 100 years later than the killings by King James I, but not very different. Throughout history rulers and commoners alike were influenced by demonologie so strongly that they killed innocent people for it.

Works Cited “James I and Witchcraft.” //HistoryLearningSite//. n.p., 2014. Web. 5 Jan. 2015. "Salem Witch Trials." //Wikipedia//. Wikimedia Foundation, 3 Jan. 2015. Web. 6 Jan. 2015.

Cultural: Margaret Faoro

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==== Demons, had been talked about for thousands of years, and have made a huge impact on modern media. It has been located in all kinds of popular media including RPG’s, movies, t.v shows, songs, and books. They all play into humanity’s horror of the supernatural, and what better to express that fear and curiosity through the entertainment means? The ‘demons’ lie below the untouchable gods of modern day, but they still hold the unbelievable powers that any mortal couldn’t imagine. Different versions of demons are expressed throughout the world, and have their own hidden morals to tell. A common theme throughout the hallowed stories can be found within a buddhist religion, highlighted by Laura Miller, “Your demons are the parts of you that you are afraid of being. Not just the parts that are unwanted or unloved—that is too tame—but the parts that you actually fear being, that you chain down inside you like dragons in a cave” (Miller 1). TV shows and horror movies use this idea to bring out the fear people have for the “demons” inside themselves, whilst other shows, like Supernatural or Charmed, try to show people that they can fight against them. Demons, using the modern meaning, embody everything that is against the moral standard. Each popular demon embody one of the seven sins: the Incubi/Succubi, who represent lust; or the Marching Hordes, who represent anger and war; and many more. The demons represent everything people hate about themselves or others: the hidden wants of humanity that nobody wants to acknowledge. And all of that fear, because talking about it directly is too obscene, is brought to light by giving it a name, an appearance, a mortal figure that can be killed. The people’s interest of themselves and the curiosity of a being so much more powerful than themselves, yet so scarily alike themselves, makes the mind wander and wonder, bringing about an interesting kind of entertainment that humans can’t resist wanting to defeat. ====

Works Cited “Demonology.” //D. J. McAdam//. D.J McAdam, n.d. Web. 5. Jan 2015. Miller, Laura M. //Elephant//. Elephant Journal. 30 Jun 2014. Web. 5 Jan 2015.