Thomasin in a witch vestment In the classic novel "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare, the character of Thomasin plays a significant role in the story. As the story progresses, Thomasin finds herself caught in a difficult situation, leading her to make a bold decision that ultimately changes her life. Initially, Thomasin is seen as a free-spirited and independent young woman. Raised in Barbados, she is accustomed to a life of sunshine and freedom. However, after the death of her parents, she is sent to live with her aunt in the Puritan community of Wethersfield, Connecticut. Here, she is quickly thrust into a world of strict rules and unyielding beliefs.
Here, she is quickly thrust into a world of strict rules and unyielding beliefs. As the story unfolds, Thomasin becomes friends with a young girl named Kit, who is considered an outsider due to her non-Puritan upbringing. Kit's presence in Thomasin's life encourages her to question the conformity and limitations of the Puritan lifestyle.
What do witch doctors actually do?
One thing every Acholi person wants to avoid is being associated with a witch doctor, but I took courage and informed the bodaboda (motorbike taxi) man that I was heading to the witch doctor’s place. He bombarded me with questions: What is your problem? Are you looking for riches? Has someone bewitched you? And his last word was that these people (witch doctors) are bad.
People certainly associate witch doctors with bad acts. They don’t associate witch doctors with, for example, deciding whether widows, with or without children, can stay on the land of their dead husbands, return to their maiden home or have the choice to reject or accept a protector (male relative of their late husband)?
Yet these are just some of the roles I discovered when I interviewed some witch doctors in Northern Uganda as part of my research for CPAID. Let’s hear from Akumu Christen (a female witch doctor):
‘It was in 2009 when I became a witch doctor, even though I never wanted to be one. In 2005 I was attacked by a ‘jok’ for the first time’.
Robin: ‘She was trying to show me what she uses in her daily work, Each one of those things has got different roles to play. The spear represents a god call Jok Kalawinya. Kalawinya is summoned when someone is possessed by evil spirits. The Bible represents a god called Mary, Mary is a white and she loves peace, so for anything concerning bringing peace, they summon her. The beer bottle represents a god call Jok Kirikitiny. Kirikitiny is a god from the Karomonjong ethnic groups – he is concerned with protection. The small syrup bottles contain a liquid substance which she takes before starting her work, it makes her see and hear from the gods.’
A jok is a class of spirit within the traditional Acholi belief system that is viewed as the cause of illness. Traditional healers (known as ajwaka) first identify the jok in question and then make an appropriate sacrifice and ceremony to counter them. Alternatively if such an approach is unsuccessful the person possessed by the jok can go through a series of rituals to gain some level of control over the jok and then themselves become ajwaka.
‘This jok wanted me to become a witch doctor. When I resisted, I became mad for three months, but in the fourth month I was taken from the forest and became a born-again Christian and the jok left me alone. But that liberty only lasted for two years and then I suffered the hardest attack yet from the jok. I became mad for the second time and lived in trees like a monkey for three months without eating food or drinking water and without coming down to the ground. Then my sister brought another witch doctor to initiate me into being a witch doctor, which was what the jok wanted all along, and that’s how I became a witch doctor.
‘I was scared because of what people would say but I now have realised that this jok–known as jokajula- does not support wrong-doing like killing people. I don’t do rituals to kill people but to help them’.
Akumu Christen now helps the people in her neighbourhood town. Paico, in different ways, including:
Mental Health Worker: Helping victims or Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) returnees by trying to stop or prevent spirits from attacking them. Or stop them from being haunted or rerunning in their minds the bad things that they did in the bush, preventing nightmares and helping them cope in their community.
Peace Maker: Participating in the reconciliation of two clans, where one killed a person from the other clan. Beside that she is also involved in summoning the spirit of the dead to ask him who should receive the ‘kwo money’(blood money paid to the victim’s family/clan).
Family Therapist: End barrenness in both men and women, which is hugely important because children are very significant to an Acholi: for a home to be called a home it should have children around.
Repair broken marriages or relationships.
Livelihoods Promotion: Remove bad luck and make people rich, especially those who have been put into bondage by bad people who want them to remain poor.
Disaster Prevention: She is summoned by the community elders to perform rituals to prevent natural calamities like drought or floods.
These are some of the things she does, but she is also a mother of two children with a very loving husband.
So now let me ask you again, do you still think witch doctors are bad people?
Robin Oryem (@oryem_robin ) is a researcher for LSE’s CPAID programme in northern Uganda.
The views expressed in this post are those of the author and in no way reflect those of the Africa at LSE blog, the Firoz Lalji Centre for Africa or the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Family Therapist: End barrenness in both men and women, which is hugely important because children are very significant to an Acholi: for a home to be called a home it should have children around.
Throughout the novel, Thomasin is depicted as a compassionate and empathetic individual. She is often seen caring for others and seeking to help those in need. However, her kindness is met with suspicion and judgment by the Puritan community. They see her as different and question her motives, labeling her as an outsider. This constant scrutiny takes a toll on Thomasin's spirit, leading her to doubt herself and the world she has been thrust into. She begins to question her own identity and her place in this new society. This internal struggle reaches its climax when Thomasin is accused of being a witch, an accusation that could ultimately lead to her death. In a pivotal moment, Thomasin makes the decision to embrace her "witch" persona. She dons a witch vestment and confronts her accusers, challenging their narrow-minded beliefs. This act of rebellion not only allows Thomasin to reclaim her identity but also sheds light on the hypocrisy of the Puritan community. Thomasin's choice to wear the witch vestment is an act of defiance and self-discovery. It symbolizes her refusal to conform to the expectations placed upon her and her desire to break free from the confines of societal norms. It is a step towards embracing her true self and finding her own path in life. In conclusion, Thomasin's decision to wear a witch vestment in "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" is a significant moment in her character development. It represents her rebellion against the oppressive norms of the Puritan community and her journey towards self-acceptance. Through this act, Thomasin emerges as a strong and resilient character who refuses to be defined by others' perceptions..
Reviews for "The Witch Vestment: A Tool for Thomasin's Survival"
1. John - 2 stars - I really didn't enjoy "Thomasin in a witch vestment". The plot was confusing and hard to follow, and the characters were poorly developed. It felt like the story was all over the place, and I struggled to connect with any of the characters. Additionally, the pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself losing interest halfway through. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it.
2. Sarah - 2 stars - "Thomasin in a witch vestment" didn't meet my expectations. The writing style was difficult to get into, and it felt very disjointed. The author seemed to jump from one idea to another without much explanation or transition. The story lacked depth, and I couldn't invest in the characters or their journeys. While the concept of the book had potential, it fell short in execution. I was left wanting more from the story and ultimately felt let down by the overall reading experience.
3. Michael - 1 star - I couldn't finish "Thomasin in a witch vestment" because I found it incredibly boring and unengaging. The story dragged on without any significant developments, and I struggled to stay interested. The characters lacked depth, and their actions felt forced and unrealistic. The dialogue was also poorly written, and I couldn't connect with any of the interactions. Overall, this book was a disappointment, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for an exciting and immersive read.