The first half of this honors course will explore the social, political, economic, and religious context for Salem Witch Trials, with an emphasis on the construction of gender in the seventeenth century. The second half of the course will examine changing representations of the Salem Trials from the seventeenth century to the present and include field study in Salem and a group project addressing the way the town of Salem, Massachusetts tells the story of this dark period in its history. Exploration of the Salem Witch Trials serves as a powerful lens on fear, persecution, political and judicial power.