In our study of Gaspar de Alba’s Calligraphy of the Witch, we were continually reminded of the historical nature of the novel. This aspect of the text was reiterated when Gaspar de Alba spoke in front of the class and described the meticulous and thorough nature of her research. The factuality of the circumstances surrounding Concepcion’s passage to the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the events of the Salem witch trials portrayed in the book, and characters such as Samuel Parris and Tituba were soundly grounded in historical events teased out by the author’s research. This article chronicles the life of one of the characters in her novel, Tituba. Although a fairly minor character in Calligraphy of the Witch, as this essay explains, Tituba played an integral role in the escalation of the Salem Witch Trials as one of the first members of the colony to be accused of witchcraft. This article is beneficial to our study of the text not only because of what it can contribute to the context of the novel and our understanding of the historical circumstances that the events of the novel are based upon, but it also adds a sense of validity to the accurateness of Gaspar de Alba’s portrayal and usage of historical characters.

Works Cited and Image Credit:  Brooks, Rebbeca Beatrice. “Tituba: The Slave of Salem.” Janurary 2, 2013. http://historyofmassachusetts.org/tituba-the-slave-of-salem/