Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Program
English
Date of Award
12-2020
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Scott Honeycutt
Committee Members
Katherine Weiss, Phyllis Thompson
Abstract
Accusations and persecution of witchcraft have been embedded in global culture for centuries. For as long as these persecutions have occurred, women have found themselves accused most frequently. Older women with herbal knowledge were often called on to assist with childbirth or termination of pregnancies and this “secret knowledge” often led them to be suspected of supernatural abilities, often of a satanic nature. Intrigued by these wise women who appeared to have mysterious powers and a penchant for arousing the ire of men in the legal, medical, and religious communities, I began to notice their frequent appearance in novels. Does the presence of actual or perceived magic serve to improve the women’s status in their community? I reviewed several examples of YA literature, two picture books, and four Toni Morrison novels to determine if magic, conjuring, and witchcraft were more powerful threats than sexism and racism.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Mallett-Birkitt, Diane, "“Fetch M’Dear”: Healers, Midwives, Witches, and Conjuring Women in Select YA and Toni Morrison Novels" (2020). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3845. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3845
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
Included in
American Literature Commons, Children's and Young Adult Literature Commons, Literature in English, North America, Ethnic and Cultural Minority Commons, Other English Language and Literature Commons, Women's Studies Commons