The Witch

Frieda McFadden’s The Witch argues that patriarchal systems consistently endanger women by rendering them powerless against male authority and social expectations. This dynamic is explored through parallel timelines, demonstrating that while the specific mechanisms of oppression may change, the underlying power imbalance remains a potent and destructive force. In the 17th century, the legal and religious condemnation of women like Caroline Eldridge illustrates a world where female autonomy is nonexistent. Centuries later, Celia Caine’s criminal actions are rooted in her own vulnerability as a marginalized woman, suggesting that the struggle for security in a male-dominated world can lead to monstrous choices. Through these interwoven stories, the novel contends that patriarchal oppression is a lasting historical pattern.

In the 1692 timeline, institutional power is wielded almost exclusively by men, who use it to control, abuse, and ultimately destroy women. During Caroline’s witchcraft trial, her fate is decided by male figures like Magistrate Putman and Deputy Oliver Strickland, who rely on “spectral evidence” and a fabricated test with a blunt needle to ensure her conviction. Her husband, Archie Eldridge, a man of great social standing, refuses to defend her, effectively sealing her death sentence to protect himself.