Hour of the Witch

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of physical abuse, emotional abuse, graphic violence, and religious discrimination.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What aspects of Mary’s character transformation struck you most powerfully as she changed from a submissive, abused wife into someone willing to kill for her freedom?

2. The novel explores religious hypocrisy and women’s oppression in Puritan New England, joining works like Arthur Miller’s The Crucible in examining these themes. How does Bohjalian’s portrayal compare to other depictions of colonial American society you’ve encountered? What unique insights does Hour of the Witch offer about the intersection of domestic violence and mass hysteria?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Throughout the story, Mary searches for divine signs to guide her decisions, from the buried Devil’s tines to specific Bible passages during sermons. Do you look for external signs or guidance when facing major life decisions?

2. Mary initially distances herself from Constance Winston to protect her reputation, but later openly associates with her despite the social risks. Is there a time when you had to choose between maintaining your social standing and supporting someone who needed help? What factors influenced your decision, and how do you reflect on that choice now? What would you do differently, if anything?

3. Thomas ensures no witnesses see his violence against Mary, making her accusations nearly impossible to prove in court. If you encountered someone in a similar situation today, what warning signs would you watch for?

4. The novel shows how women like Catherine and Beth Howland sometimes reinforce the very systems that limit their freedom and safety. Have you observed situations where people participate in structures that ultimately work against their interests?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. In the novel,  Puritan society is portrayed as sanctioning domestic violence as a husband’s disciplinary right while harshly judging women for moral transgressions. How does this portrayal connect to contemporary attitudes about domestic abuse? What progress has been made, and where do troubling parallels still exist?

2. Characters like Constance face suspicion simply for living independently, while Mary’s divorce petition marks her as potentially dangerous to social order. How do modern societies still use labels, gossip, or social pressure to discourage women from challenging traditional gender roles?

3. What does the community’s treatment of religious minorities like the Quakers reveal about how previously marginalized groups turn to oppression when they gain power?

4. Mary’s inability to conceive becomes both a source of personal shame and public suspicion in her community. How do societal expectations around fertility and motherhood continue to impact women’s sense of worth in contemporary society?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. What significance do you find in Bohjalian’s decision to structure the novel as “The Book of the Wife” and “The Book of the Witch?” How do these biblically framed titles reflect Mary’s transformation throughout the story? Does this division enhance or detract from your reading experience?

2. Peregrine’s true motivations remain hidden until she reveals her own history of abuse and her attempts to poison Thomas. How does this revelation reframe your understanding of her earlier suspicious behavior and the novel’s theme of women protecting each other?

3. The Devil’s tines transform from ominous symbols of evil and oppression into ordinary utensils Mary enjoys using in her new life in England. What literary devices does Bohjalian use to evolve this symbol across the novel? 

4. Both of Mary’s trials focus more on judging her character and conformity to gender expectations than determining factual truth about her claims. What critique does Bohjalian offer about how legal and social institutions can become weapons against those seeking justice?

5. Animals appear throughout the novel as symbols, from serpents representing temptation and original sin to Mary becoming a “winged Fury” during Thomas’s murder. What do these animal images suggest about the characters’ moral complexity and the blurred lines between good and evil? How does Bohjalian use these metaphors to challenge simplistic notions of virtue and wickedness?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Design a museum exhibit about daily life for women in 1662 Boston using themes and objects from the novel. Which artifacts would you feature, and how would you present Mary’s story within the broader historical context of women’s limited legal rights?

2. Imagine you’re a sympathetic resident of Mary’s community who wants to help her but fears accusations of witchcraft yourself. Write a scene detailing subtle ways you would find to offer assistance or gather evidence without drawing suspicion.

3. The epilogue reveals Mary living peacefully with Henry and their daughter Desiree in England. Write a letter from Mary to Constance five years after her escape describing her new life. What would she want her friend to know about finding freedom and building a family? How might she describe the simple joy of using three-tined forks without fear?

Need more conversation starters? Inspire your group with our Discussion Questions tool.