Question

In "The Witch of Blackbird Pond," what does Matthew say in response to the charges against Kit? How is his defense weakened?

a) Matthew strongly defends Kit, stating that the accusations are baseless and fueled by fear. His defense is weakened by his lack of evidence and inability to sway the accusers.
b) Matthew remains silent, leaving Kit to defend herself. His defense is weakened by his failure to stand up for Kit and provide a strong counterargument.
c) Matthew admits to some doubts about Kit's background, inadvertently adding weight to the accusations. His defense is weakened by his own uncertainty.
d) Matthew agrees with the accusations, believing Kit's actions have brought misfortune to the community. His defense is weakened by his lack of loyalty to Kit.

Answer 1

Matthew defends Kit by stating that the accusations are baseless and fueled by fear, but his lack of evidence and inability to persuade the accusers weakens his defense.

Step-by-step explanation:

In The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Matthew strongly defends Kit, stating that the accusations against her are baseless and fueled by fear. However, his defense is weakened by his lack of evidence and inability to sway the accusers. This reflects the historical context of the Salem witch trials, where non-conformity was met with suspicion, and accusations of witchcraft were difficult to refute due to a societal belief in the devil's work. Similar themes can also be seen in Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle, emphasizing the societal persecution of those who deviate from the norm.