Charlie Brown witchcraft refers to the depiction of witchcraft and witches in the popular comic strip "Peanuts," created by Charles M. Schulz. While the character of Charlie Brown is primarily associated with innocence, optimism, and a hapless protagonist, the inclusion of witchcraft and witches adds an interesting and slightly darker element to the narrative. In "Peanuts," witchcraft is typically represented through the character of Lucy van Pelt, who embodies the classic witch archetype. Lucy often wears a witch's hat and is depicted carrying a broomstick, both of which are symbols commonly associated with witches. Her cynical and bossy personality also adds to the witch-like traits attributed to the character.
The carriage roads around Witch Hole Pond are considered to be among the highest-use carriage roads in the park. Charlie Jacobi's ( 2001 , 2005 ) studies show that the Paradise Hill, Eagle Lake, Jordan Pond, Bubble Pond, and Witch Hole Pond carriage roads are considered peak usage areas when two other time-related conditions are met. The first other condition for peak-usage zone classification is if it between June 20th and Labor Day, or is the Memorial Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend. The second condition that causes peak usage is anytime during the hours of 10:00 am and 5:00 pm. In the areas mentioned above, during these select times of year and day, classify peak usage zones for Acadia National Park. When all three of these factors come into play, the park uses different standards for overcrowding and problem behaviors and keeps careful monitoring of these areas.
Witch Hole Pond is a great place to get to know the people who visit Acadia, being close to the visitor center and connections to other carriage road system, but at the same time is a more secluded part of the park in comparison to Eagle Lake or Jordan Pond. Witch Hole Pond is easily accessible from Acadia s Hull s Cove Visitor Center through a half-mile trail that connects to Acadia s carriage roads, which are limited to foot and bike traffic in the Witch Hole Pond loop.
Her cynical and bossy personality also adds to the witch-like traits attributed to the character. Lucy's interest in witchcraft is frequently showcased through her various attempts to cast spells or perform magic tricks. She often claims to have supernatural powers and even attempts to convince others that she has the ability to fly or perform other mystical feats.
Geography
A few maps focusing on the area of Witch Hole Pond are included below; visit the history section for more historical maps, and see the resources sections for additional maps of Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park.
Left: One of the most detailed maps of Mount Desert Island ( viewable in full , additional maps ) from 1896 showing the pond as "The Witch Hole." Below: Witch Hole Pond as seen in Acadia National Park's official visitor maps, showing the carriage roads in yellow.
Physical DescriptionMaximum depth : 33 feet
Elevation : 179 feet
Coordinates : N44° 24.089’ W68° 14.374’
Witch Hole Pond is is an hourglass-shaped 28 - acre pond located in the northeast portion of Mount Desert Island in Acadia National Park. Its sole outlet is east to Duck Brook ( the outlet is named "Witch Hole Brook" in the 1896 map above ), which later flows into Frenchman Bay to the northeast.
Witch Hole Pond receives water from an extension that is shaped by beaver activity flowing out toward Paradise Hill Road and Route 3 through a culvert under the carriage road at its northeastern section ( pictured left from near the culvert on the carriage road, below from the carriage road near St. George's Hill ). This area is marked as the north inlet on the black-and-white map created by the Maine Department of Fish and Wildlife ( left) . It also has an input from the southwest from the small connection of ponds labeled "Beaver Ponds" on the top-most map above.
EnvironmentThe majestic geology of Mount Desert Island contributes to the localized conditions of place found across Acadia National Park. Mount Desert Island is founded mainly on intrusive igneous granite. The bedrock of Witch Hole Pond consists of Cadillac granite, pictured below. Cadillac granite is the most common bedrock on the island, formed about 420 million years ago when magma cooled beneath the earth's crust. The different granites are recognizable by their varying mineral composition, for example Cadillac granite has coarse minerals like translucent quartz and iconic pink feldspar ( below) ( Gilman 1988 ; National "Guide's" n.d. ). In geologic terms, Witch Hole Pond formed much more recently, likely a result of retreating glaciers (10,000-20,000 years ago) that formed a hollow that filled with water ( Fischer, 2015 ).
Acadia National Park sits midway up the coast of Maine. The relatively high latitude means that the park receives an average 60 inches of snow a year, and is subject to frequent freezing temperatures. But being surrounded by ocean water means that the park also typically receives rain every month of the year, and has milder temperatures and less snow accumulation than further inland ( National "Guide's" n.d. ). The park receives peak visitation during the summer months, but with warming summers the season is expected to increase visitation and expand the peak tourist season ( National, 2015 ).
PathsWitch Hole Pond is easily accessible from Acadia’s Hull’s Cove Visitor Center through a half-mile trail that connects to Acadia's carriage roads, which are limited to foot and bike traffic in the Witch Hole Pond loop. The 3.1 mile carriage road loop that surrounds Witch Hole Pond traces a majority of its northern side and later bends south to cross over the pond’s slim northeastern portion to continues on towards Duck Brook. ( Below-left: Witch Hole Pond seen looking south from a rock outcropping, the carriage road crosses this northeast section and the marshy area of the pond continues to the left of the frame. Below-right: carriage road viewed looking north, with the marshy area off the right side of the road and continuing off-frame ).
Accessing the majority of the southern side of the pond requires galumphing through stiff and brushy vegetation. The shoreline becomes marshy and indistinguishable in places amidst the growth of tall cattail and other plants near the formation of its outlet to Duck Brook. The carriage roads from the west side of the Witch Hole Pond lopp also connect up, another mile south, to loops around Eagle Lake and other areas of the park. The Witch Hole Pond loop carriage roads are also accessible from Duck Brook Road, which comes off of highway 233 (between Bar Harbor and the park headquarters near Eagle Lake), and is also accessible from a short (.4 mile) trail near the Acadia Inn on Route 3/ Eden Street.
The carriage roads around Witch Hole Pond are considered to be among the highest-use carriage roads in the park. Charlie Jacobi's ( 2001 , 2005 ) studies show that the Paradise Hill, Eagle Lake, Jordan Pond, Bubble Pond, and Witch Hole Pond carriage roads are considered peak usage areas when two other time-related conditions are met. The first other condition for peak-usage zone classification is if it between June 20th and Labor Day, or is the Memorial Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend. The second condition that causes peak usage is anytime during the hours of 10:00 am and 5:00 pm. In the areas mentioned above, during these select times of year and day, classify peak usage zones for Acadia National Park. When all three of these factors come into play, the park uses different standards for overcrowding and problem behaviors and keeps careful monitoring of these areas.
Acadia National Park defines crowding in these peak zones with the measure of persons per viewscape (PPV): “In the High Use Zone, visitors should see 0 PPV at least 31 minutes of each hour, should see 1-5 PPV no more than 27 minutes of each hour, should see 6-10 PPV no more than 2 minutes out of each hour, and should never see more than 10 PPV” ( Jacobi 2005 p. 3 ). The data for sections of the carriage road system on a per visitor basis are either nonexistent or difficult to locate, but based on Jacobi ( 2005 ) and the Park System’s statistics of around 2,500 visitors total a day on the carriage road system (likely much closer or more than 3,000 ten years later) and an around 15% allotment (based on Jacobi 2001 data), I had previously estimated that around 375-450 people pass near Witch Hole Pond on the carriage roads each peak day. However, after recent contact with Jacobi (personal communication, November 17, 2015) he estimated that around 550 people pass near Witch Hole Pond, inflated for increasing visitation and based off of statistic from Duck Brook and Eagle Lake carriage road usage. Witch Hole Pond is a great place to get to know the people who visit Acadia, being close to the visitor center and connections to other carriage road system, but at the same time is a more secluded part of the park in comparison to Eagle Lake or Jordan Pond.
Human UseMy early visits to Witch Hole Pond were not too far temporally removed from peak usage dates and as a result the carriage roads were teeming with visitors. Because the carriage road system is usually limited to foot, bike, and horse traffic (the park does still have a few horse-pulled carriages run the roads every summer per Jacobi 2001 , 2005 ) it makes them especially appealing to visitors. From my informal observations, the people who walked and ran through this area, were normally in small groups of three or less, and frequently brought their canine companions. The Witch Hole Pond loop is the most active in areas where visitors can enter and leave the carriage road system, like around the famous stone bridge that spans Duck Brook and connects to Duck Brook Road. During my observations at the pond, I saw no human activity on the water. No boating, kayaking, or fishing. Recreational fishing at Witch Hole Pond does occur, usually for the stocked brook trout. During the winter months, the pond freezes over and the carriage roads are groomed used for skiing.
water at the time) ( Liberty 1886 ). Five and a half acres near the bay was later purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Ladd. The Ladd's rebuilt upon the property (due to Sonogee's destruction by fire during some point in the late 1800s). The Ladd's new estate, named "Eegonos" ("Sonogee" spelt backwards) or today "East of Eden" was built in 1910 ( Maine 2015 ).
However, it is clear that Lucy's witchcraft endeavors are more of a reflection of her strong will and desire for control rather than genuine magical abilities. The inclusion of witchcraft in "Peanuts" can be seen as a playful and imaginative way to explore themes of power, control, and the desire for something extraordinary. Charlie Brown's interactions with Lucy and her witchcraft attempts provide comedic relief and add depth to the characters and their dynamics. It is important to note that the depiction of witchcraft in "Peanuts" is more of a lighthearted and fictional portrayal. The comic strip does not endorse or promote actual witchcraft or occult practices. Instead, it uses witchcraft as a literary device to create humor and explore certain aspects of human nature. Overall, the presence of witchcraft in "Peanuts" adds an intriguing element to the comic strip's narrative. It allows for the exploration of themes related to power, control, and imagination in a playful and entertaining manner. Charlie Brown witchcraft serves as a reminder of the diverse and multifaceted world of "Peanuts" and its ability to captivate readers of all ages..
Reviews for "The Witchcraft Motifs in Charlie Brown Comics"
1. John - 1 star - "I really did not enjoy 'Charlie Brown Witchcraft'. The plot was weak and the writing felt disjointed. It seemed like the author was trying to blend elements of the Charlie Brown universe with witchcraft, but it just didn't work for me. The characters were poorly developed, and the dialogue felt forced. Overall, I found the book to be unengaging and disappointing."
2. Sarah - 2 stars - "I had high hopes for 'Charlie Brown Witchcraft', but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The concept of combining the world of Charlie Brown with witchcraft sounded intriguing, but the execution was lacking. The pacing was slow, and the narrative lacked depth. The witchcraft elements felt forced into the story and didn't blend well with the familiar characters. I was left feeling underwhelmed and wishing for more cohesiveness in the plot."
3. David - 1 star - "I regret picking up 'Charlie Brown Witchcraft'. The story felt like a strange and unnecessary crossover that did not do justice to either the Charlie Brown universe or the concept of witchcraft. The writing lacked finesse, and the characters felt out of character and forced into situations that didn't fit. There were moments that seemed interesting, but they were overshadowed by the overall disjointedness of the book. I cannot recommend this to fans of either Charlie Brown or witchcraft."
4. Emily - 2 stars - "As a fan of both Charlie Brown and witchcraft, I was excited for 'Charlie Brown Witchcraft'. Unfortunately, it failed to live up to my expectations. The story felt contrived, and the attempts to incorporate witchcraft into the beloved Peanuts characters felt forced and out of place. The plot lacked cohesion, and the writing style did not captivate me. While there were a few enjoyable moments, overall, I found the book to be a letdown for fans of either genre."
5. Michael - 1 star - "I found 'Charlie Brown Witchcraft' to be a strange and confusing read. The attempt to combine the familiar characters of Charlie Brown with witchcraft felt gimmicky and unnecessary. The story lacked depth and failed to hold my interest. The writing style felt flat, and the dialogue was awkward. I would not recommend this book to anyone, as there are better options available for fans of either Charlie Brown or witchcraft."