Maryse Condé's I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem

I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem, is a story that begins and ends with tragedy. It is a mirror into the life of Tituba who not only faced the degradation of being a slave but also of being a witch. For Tituba, life was not joyous but instead it reeked the odor of a sacrificed chicken. The story begins with Abena, Tituba’s mother, who is raped by an English sailor and then sold to the highest bidder. As if the humiliation of becoming someone’s property is not difficult enough Abena soon discovers she is with child. It is this news that lends itself to an unknown blessing in her dark world. She soon finds herself in the arms of a man, Yao, who becomes a father, a friend, and a lover to Abena. Unfortunately, when happiness appears it is quickly erased because not long after the birth of her daughter, Tituba, Abena was hung for the crime of striking her master. It was at that moment that life changed for Tituba. She explains, “I felt something harden inside me like lava; a feeling that was never to leave me, a mixture of terror and mourning.” After the death of her mother and then Yao, Tituba was driven off the plantation but because of the solidarity among slaves she was taken in by Mama Yaya, an old woman and a witch. It was Mama Yaya who taught her how to use her power of witchcraft positively and for the benefit of others but just as Abena and Yao were taken from her so was Mama Yaya. Tituba was left to fend for herself but soon she met John Indian who became her husband. John Indian played a vital role in Tituba’s life because it was for him that she surrendered her freedom. “My mother had been raped by a white man. She had been hanged because of a white man. I had seen his tongue quiver out of his mouth, his penis turgid and violet. Mt adoptive father had committed suicide because of a white man. Despite all that, I was considering living among white men again, in their midst, under the domination. And all because of an uncontrollable desire for a mortal man. Wasn’t it madness? Madness and betrayal.” Despite her reservations Tituba decided to follow her heart, which led her to Susanna Endicott. The friction between the two women began immediately and it soon became a full-fledged war that ended with Tituba and John being sold to Samuel Parris, an evil man who preached religion but lived a life ruled by Satan. It was on Tituba’s voyage to America with the family that she met Elizabeth Parris and Betsy Parris with whom she developed a close bond. She once again only used her powers in a positive way, to heal and to protect. The family arrived in Salem where Tituba had difficulties with the other members of the community constantly accusing her of practicing evil witchcraft. Her life progressively got worse when she discovered that she was pregnant. Normally this would be a happy moment in the life of a woman but after witnessing the cruelty of the world she lived in, she could not bear to let another human being suffer the same. After the death of her child Tituba was confined to prison for “evil-doing.” It was there that she met Hester whom she developed a bond with because they both were exiled from their community for unjust reasons. Hester opened Tituba’s eyes to the truth that lay before her, the truth that would solidify her painful existence. Her beloved husband, John Indian, was against her. “I learned through prison rumor that John Indian was in the front line of the accusers, that he accompanied the girls, those scourges of God, shouted when they shouted, had seizures when they had them, and gave names louder and stronger than they did.” Her own husband, a man that should have been devoted to her was fighting to keep her locked away. Even with the relentless accusations, Tituba was granted a pardon and then bought by Benjamin Cohen d’Azevedo. She was taken from one form of slavery to another but at least with her new owner she felt a sense of companionship because he too was faced with prejudice. Once again, Tituba uses her powers to help people and she does this by evoking the sprits that allowed Azevedo to see his late wife. Together, Tituba and Azevedo, they share a passion and a love of two people who are outcasts in a harsh world. This semblance of happiness and comfort comes to a screeching halt when Azevedo’s children are murdered because of his relationship with Tituba. He then grants Tituba her freedom and she returns to Barbados, which has been her dream for so long but upon her return she is melancholy for she is not welcomed with open arms but a sad and ruined country. She tries to recapture the life she once had but her attempts fail and then she meets Christopher who doesn’t love her but impregnates her nonetheless. She decides to keep this child almost like it is a second chance for her and then she is blessed again with Iphigene. At first, she is like a mother to him but as time progresses they become lovers and later he puts thoughts in her head about beginning a revolt. Weak and frustrated with life she plays a part in the planning of the revolt, which leads to her tragic death. The same fate her mother was given, death by hanging.

As in any great novel there is a plethora of themes that in a way define the character of the work; I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem holds true to this statement. The overall theme or the core of the novel is the search for freedom and ultimately identity. Being a black slave and a witch, Tituba is caught in a world that only has extreme contempt for her. According to most people that surround Tituba she is considered a menace to society, a mere stain on the perfection that they posses. Even though in some parts of the novel she is not “enslaved” to a master she never truly is free or happy. She is a lost soul searching for a home, for love, and for peace but unfortunately her powers are not strong enough to change her fate.

Another theme that is touched on in this novel is the dependent relationship between man and woman. Tituba is a prime example of this; a woman who allows the man in her life to dictate her direction. The reason for her submission is most definitely due to her identity crisis and the fact that she does feel whole in her skin. This begins with her decision to give up her freedom to follow John Indian. She understands the negative repercussions of her decision yet she still decides to follow a man. This is a continuous process for Tituba as she submits to each mans plea. After the betrayal of John Indian she finds comfort in Benjamin Cohen d’Azevedo, her master, and even when he permits her to leave she hesitates. Azevedo says, “You are now free. And here is proof.” Tituba replies, “I don’t want your freedom, I want to stay with you.” Later Tituba continues by saying, “but some men who have the virtue of being weak instill in us the desire to be a slave.” Tituba finds comfort in the arms of a man but it is extreme to the point that she will give up her freedom and happiness for that chance at everlasting companionship.

J. Yocum
02/23/04