One day, a new teacher joined my school, and from the moment she walked into the classroom, I could tell there was something different about her. As she introduced herself, her voice sounded oddly enchanting, and her eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint. I couldn't help but think that my teacher might be a witch. It all started when strange occurrences began happening in our classroom. Objects would mysteriously move on their own, and sometimes we would catch a glimpse of our teacher whispering spells under her breath. Often, she would make the most complex topics seem like magic, effortlessly explaining scientific concepts that seemed impossible to comprehend.

Why ‘The Witch’ is the scariest historical film ever

Melissa J. Gismondi does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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Popular culture and literature has been rife with depictions of New England witchcraft for years. Perennial Halloween favourites include Disney’s Hocus Pocus, John Updike’s The Witches of Eastwick, Practical Magic and Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, which was also made into a movie starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Winona Ryder.

All of these movies are entertaining, but none of them are supposed to be scary, or very historical, although The Crucible comes closest. The story is suspenseful and Miller researched the notorious Salem Witch Trials to interrogate what he called “a paranoid situation.” When Miller staged the play in 1953, that situation was the Red Scare and McCarthyism.

By 1996, when The Crucible appeared as a film, Miller told The New York Times he had “immense confidence in the applicability of the play to almost any time, the reason being it’s dealing with a paranoid situation…that doesn’t depend on any particular political or sociological development. I wrote it blind to the world. The enemy is within, and within stays within, and we can’t get out of within. It’s always on the edge of our minds that behind what we see is a nefarious plot.”

Enter Robert Eggers’ indie film, The Witch (A24 Films, 2016). The movie chronicles the saga of a Puritan family in the 1630s as they try to carve out an isolated existence after their village exiled them over differing interpretations of the New Testament. Horror soon ensues as children disappear into the woods and the oldest girl, Thomasina, is accused of witchcraft.

Telling any more of the story risks spoiling it. But I will say that by using extensive historical research, Eggers offers the most captivating — and historically accurate — representative of the Puritan imagination I’ve ever seen. And it’s terrifying.

Often, she would make the most complex topics seem like magic, effortlessly explaining scientific concepts that seemed impossible to comprehend. As time went on, it became clear that our teacher's powers extended beyond the classroom walls. Whenever a student was feeling down or struggling with something, she would somehow sense it and offer advice or support that seemed almost supernatural.

Who were the Puritans?

The Puritans were members of an English Protestant church. They deemed the Protestant Reformation unfinished because English monarchs had supposedly allowed too much religious compromise and inclusion. Steeped in Calvinist doctrine, Puritans sought a morally refined Christianity that eschewed the supposed luxuries of Catholicism and Anglicanism.

The Puritans promoted the absolute sovereignty of God and believed that the best way to attain his favour was through close, intimate relationships that were facilitated through small prayer groups and zealous, evangelical sermons.

In the early decades of the 17th century, Puritans began migrating from England to colonize Massachusetts and Connecticut. As the theologian John Winthrop said in 1630, Puritans hoped to make their settlement a “city upon the hill” and serve as an example of spiritual purity to Europeans back home.

All this, though, was easier said than done. The Puritans struggled against a range of enemies, both internal and external, to establish a colony committed to the worship of God in the emerging British Empire.

Believing themselves to be in a “covenant” with God, Puritans’ religious zeal coloured how they saw the world. Obsessed with demonstrating their religious devotion in the hopes of securing salvation in the afterlife, many Puritans feared that living in the supposed “wilderness” of New England might lead them to spiritual savagery.

As a result, they had a tendency to see the devil everywhere, which led to paranoia over witchcraft during most of the 17th century.

Historians have offered different interpretations of what motivated this paranoia. In her 2003 book, In the Devil’s Snare, Mary Beth Norton makes a compelling case that trauma from violent conflicts between white settlers and the Abenaki people of Maine underlay accusations of witchcraft in the Salem Witch Trials.

But as Carol Karlsen points out in her now-classic book, The Devil in the Shape of a Woman, “the story of witchcraft is primarily the story of women.” By making John Proctor, a farmer who was executed for witchcraft, the protagonist, The Crucible missed the mark. Witchcraft, Karlsen asserts, “confronts us with ideas about women, with fears about women, with the place of women in society, and with women themselves.”

It’s this Puritanical, fanatical fear of women and witchcraft — as it plays out in the New England wilderness — that The Witch captures so brilliantly.

It was as if she had a sixth sense for understanding our thoughts and emotions. Furthermore, our teacher had an uncanny ability to make even the most mundane activities feel exciting and captivating. She had a way of bringing literature to life, making us feel like we were living in the pages of our favorite books. Whether it was through dramatic readings, lively discussions, or creative assignments, she always managed to ignite a magical spark of curiosity within us. But it wasn't just her teaching style that made me believe she might be a witch. There were times when her predictions seemed eerie and accurate. She would often have an uncanny ability to foresee when something unexpected was about to happen, and her advice would prove invaluable in navigating those situations. Of course, my speculations were merely a result of an overactive imagination. While I couldn't deny the magical aura surrounding my teacher, I knew deep down that she wasn't a witch. Instead, she was a remarkable educator who possessed a unique blend of passion, knowledge, and intuition. Looking back on my time with her, I am grateful for the influence she had on me. She taught me not only academic lessons but also life lessons about resilience, creativity, and the importance of pursuing one's passions. Though she may not have been a witch, the impact she left on my life remains truly magical..

Reviews for "From Witchcraft to Wisdom: The Transformational Journey of a Teacher"

- Sarah - 2/5 - I found "My Teacher is a Witch" to be quite disappointing. The plot was incredibly predictable and cliché, and the writing style lacked depth and originality. The characters felt one-dimensional, and I couldn't connect with any of them. Additionally, the pacing was too slow for my liking, and I often found myself losing interest and wanting to put the book down. Overall, I was expecting much more from this novel and was left feeling underwhelmed.

- Tyler - 1/5 - I absolutely did not enjoy "My Teacher is a Witch." The storyline was incredibly unrealistic and far-fetched, making it difficult to suspend my disbelief. The dialogue felt forced and awkward, and the overall writing quality was subpar. I also found the characters to be uninteresting and lack any depth or development. The book failed to captivate me in any way, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a well-written and engaging read.

- Emily - 2/5 - "My Teacher is a Witch" was a letdown for me. The concept seemed intriguing at first, but the execution fell flat. The pacing was all over the place, with some parts dragging on with excessive detail while other important scenes were rushed and lacked proper development. The writing style was average, and the plot twists were predictable. Moreover, I found it challenging to relate to the characters, as they lacked complexity and felt like stereotypes. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't personally recommend it.

- Michael - 2.5/5 - "My Teacher is a Witch" had potential, but it didn't live up to my expectations. The plot had some interesting elements but was weighed down by clumsy execution. The pacing was inconsistent, with parts that were too slow and others that were rushed. The narrative lacked depth, and the characters felt underdeveloped. Additionally, the world-building lacked detail, leaving me wanting more. While the book had some entertaining moments, it ultimately fell short for me.

The Power of Words: Communicating with a Witch Teacher