Katherine

*"I had dreamed once – 'twas when I was of Thomasin's years – that I was with Christ upon earth. I was so very near him and in many tears for the assurance of the pardon of my sins and was so ravished with his love towards me, I thought it far exceeding the affection of the kindest husband. The impression of it was so deep in my heart, when I waked, my pillow had turned to tears. And, since Samuel disappeared, I have such a sad weakness of faith that I cannot shake it. I cannot see Christ’s help as near. I pray and pray but I cannot . . . I fear I cannot ever feel that same measure of love again."*
―Katherine[src]
**Katherine** is an English Puritan living in New England.

## Biography

### Background

Katherine is born in England. As a teenager, she has a dream that she is with Jesus Christ on Earth, which has a profound effect on her. As an adult, she marries William and mothers four children; Thomasin, Caleb and the twins, Jonas and Mercy. At some point the family, along with their pet dog, Fowler, emigrate to America, where they find home at a plantation in New England.

### Banishment

*"I will confess Jehovah with all heart in secret,
and in assembly of the just,
Great are the works of our Lord,
sought out of all that in them do delight,
Beautiful and glorious his work is,
and his righteousness endureth forever..."*
―Katherine leads her family in a hymn[src]

Along with the rest of her family, Katherine is brought before the governor of the plantation due to a religious dispute. She watches as her husband argues with the governor, stating that they left their home and kinsmen and travailed a vast ocean for the pure and faithful dispensation of the Gospels and the Kindgdom of God. He declares the dignitaries to be false Christians unfit to judge him and the governor accuses him of dishonoring the law of the Commonwealth and the Church with his prideful conceit. William refuses to back down and the governor banishes the family from the plantation. William declares that he is glad of it and Katherine follows him as he departs.

The family then leave the plantation with what little they can fit on the back of the carriage pulled by their horse, Burt. As they ride away, Katherine leads them in a hymn. They travel for some time before finding a fertile stretch of land at the edge of a forest where they can set up a farm. Kneeling, they join hands in prayer.

### Samuel's Disappearance

*"How thou couldst lose my father's silver wine cup in this hovel, I cannot know."
"I have no–"
"Peace, child, it is gone. Did a wolf vanish that too?"*
―Katherine and Thomasin[src]

Over the next few months, the family build their farm and Katherine gives birth to a baby boy, Samuel. One day, she gives him to Thomasin to looking after while she rests. Under Thomasin's care, Samuel goes missing. Katherine falls into a deep depression, not sleeping and spending the day lying in bed, praying and crying.

One morning, she finds William and Caleb gone without explanation. She later finds that the wins have have riled up the billy goat, Black Phillip, and holds them back while William grabs him by his horns and wrestles him into his pen. Once he has gotten the goat into the pen, William falls into a pile of dung, prompting the twins to laugh at him.

Katherine demands to know where William and Caleb were that morning and chastises Thomasin for not keeping watch of the twins. Thomasin states that she was, but they ignored her when she asked for their help and Katherine orders her to take William's rags to the brook and wash them. She chides William for leaving her alone, stating that they are behind on the morning's work. William does not offer an explanation, which annoys Katherine, but as she turns to go inside, Caleb tells her that they went to find apples in the valley to surprise her, but there were none. Katherine is touched, but tells him not to leave the farm again.

Later that evening, the family sit down for supper and William leads them in prayer. Katherine asks Thomasin what has become of her father's silver cup and Thomasin asks if it is on the shelf or in the six board. Katherine states that it is not in neither of those places and has been missing for some while. She asks Thomasin if she has lost it and Thomasin replies that she has not touched it, but Katherine does not believe her. William backs up Thomasin, but Katherine is not convinced. She coldly asks if a wolf stole the cup as it did Samuel then and asks what is amiss on the farm, declaring that it is not natural. Attempting to diffuse the situation, William asks Caleb to read out a chapter of the Word, encouraging the family to find light in the darkness. They hear the goats bleating outside and Katherine orders Thomasin to go and bed them down, chiding her for not doing it before supper.

### Discussion with William

*"She's old enough, she needs must leave to serve another family."
"Nay, I must have each our hands –"
"And each our empty stomachs too?"
"'Twas not her fault. I must tell thee Kate–"
"Aye, it was thine for taking thy family hither."
"This is Godly land–"
"Godly? Our children are being fostered up like savages."
"Kate!"
"How oft I begged and begged thee to take Samuel for baptism."*
―Katherine and William[src]

Katherine prays later that night and William tells her that she must sleep that night. She joins him in bed and he holds her close, asking if she remembers that he loves her. She replies that she does and he tells her that they must turn their thoughts towards God and not themselves. He tells her that God has been good to them and they have been ungrateful of His grace. Katherine declares that God has cursed their family and William replies that he has taken them into a very low condition to humble them.

Katherine states that they should never have left the plantation, comparing their current situation to Jesus Christ being led into the wilderness to be ill met by the Devil. William replies that they have no need for silver chalices and she angrily replies that it is not due to vanity that she is grieved of it. She states that they could have sold it, as nobody will buy their corn due to its condition. Katherine then tells William that Thomasin has begun to become a woman and then calls out to the children to see if they are asleep.

Upon receiving no reply, she tells William that Thomasin must be sent away to serve another family. William is against the idea and she chides him for not taking Samuel to be baptised. She tells him that they are in danger of starving and begins to cry. William states that he will take Thomasin to the village in the morning and give her to good folk such as the Tildens and the Whytings. He promises her that they will find food.

### Missing Children

*"I knew you were false! I knew it!"
"I did want it a surprise, 'twas why I kept silent. I will trap that wolf."
"You stood by whilst our son lied to me!"
"'Twas for thy sake. I love thee, Kate."
"You took him to the Wood!"
"I will find him."
"You have broken God's covenant. You are a liar. And you have lost another child."*
―**Katherine** and William[src]

The next morning, they wake to find Thomasin and Caleb gone, along with Burt, Fowler and the musket. Katherine and William tie the twins to a fence to prevent them from wandering off and scour the edges of the wood, calling out for Thomasin and Caleb. William finds Thomasin, but Caleb is not with her.

They return to the farm and William makes plans to set off at first light and search for Caleb. Katherine tells him that it is foolish to go without a gun or a dog and suggests that he go to the village for help. He dismisses it as it is a day's ride and he has no horse, as Burt went missing when the children took him to the wood. He then decides that there is no time to be lost and that he will set off at once despite the rain. Katherine demands that Thomasin tell her why they went to the wood, but Thomasin replies that she has promised Caleb she would not. Thomasin begs to find favor in her eyes and Katherine tells her that she will if she tells her the truth. William then confesses that he sold the silver cup and took Caleb to the wood the previous morning. He begs Katherine and Thomasin for forgiveness.

Katherine and William argue outside and he tells her that he the traps were to earn them food and pelts that they could sell. He tells her that he meant it as a surprise and declares the he will trap the wolf that took Samuel. She is angered that he allowed Caleb to lie to her and she chastises him for lying and losing another child. She tells him that he will die if he goes into the wood and strikes him as he attempts to calm her. She begins to cry and he carries her back inside.

Thomasin treats William's wound and Katherine chides the story about picking apples. Thomasin asks if the goats have been bedded down yet and Katherine replies that they have not. She offers to do it, but Katherine tells her to wait until the morning due to the rain. Thomasin insists, declaring a wish to please her. Katherine calls Thomasin to her and kisses her on the forehead, urging her to hurry back. As Thomasin beds down the goats, she finds Caleb naked and delirious in the rain. They take him inside and as they lay him down, Katherine cuts the edge of his eyebrow and Thomasin collects his blood in a bowl. Katherine prays to God to help Caleb heal.

### Witchcraft

*"Dost remember John Kempe's boy? That first winter, he was tormented of Indian magic."
"'Tis not the same."
"This is unnatural providence."
"I know not that."
"Look at thy son. Will..."
"What?"
"Think."
"Think what?"
"Think."
"I have no thought."
"Does this look not like witchcraft!?"*
―Katherine and William[src]

The next morning, Katherine prays by Caleb's bedside when William visits her. She asks if he remembers John Kempe's son, who was tormented by Indian magic. William states that what is happening to Caleb is not the same and she insists that it is witchcraft. He asks her who has done it to him and dismisses her thoughts as those of a child. He tells her that he plans to return to the plantation in the morning, find a family for Thomasin and take Caleb to the doctor. He resolves to find some unspoiled corn and sell it and the goats. Katherine tell him to forget the crops and he asks her what it is she wants.

She tells him that she wants to be back in England and tells him that she has never meant to be a shrew to him, comparing herself to Job's wife. She confesses that since Sam went missing, her heart has turned to stone. She tells him that when she was a teenager, she dreamed that she was with Christ upon Earth and was so ravished by his love towards him that she thought it far exceeded the affection of the kindest husband. She admits that since Sam disappeared, she has such a sad weakness of faith that she cannot shake it. She fears that she will never feel that same measure of love again. William promises her that she will have it in Heaven and encourages her to join him in the field if she can.

The family search for unspoiled corn and Katherine and Thomasin tell Mercy to be silent as she sings a song about Black Phillip. They suddenly hear Caleb screaming in the house and rush inside. They find him screaming about a female tormentor and William orders Thomasin to take the twins outside. Katherine asks Caleb what does it to him and discovers that his mouth is sealed up. William attempts to pull it open, but is unsuccessful. He takes out his knife and inserts the handle into Caleb's mouth, prying his jaws apart. To the shock of everyone, Caleb spits out a bloody apple, which convinces Katherine that he is bewitched. The twins accuse Thomasin, causing Katherine to ask them what horrible fancy this is, and they declare that she stole Sam and turned Flora's milk to blood.

William demands that Thomasin kneel before him and look him in the eye. He asks her if she loves the Word of God, the Bible and prayer, and she replies that she does. He declares that they are all sinners, but that he has not raised a witch. He orders them all to pray for Caleb, but the twins state they cannot remember their prayer, which confuses Katherine. As the others pray, the twins fall to the floor, convulsing and screaming, horrifying Katherine. Caleb suddenly shouts about animals performing sexual acts on his female tormentor and Katherine cries and encourages him to think on Christ.

He begs Jesus to save him and William, Katherine and Thomasin join hands in prayer. Once they finish their prayer, Caleb ecstatically declares his love for Jesus before lying still. Katherine frantically attempts to wake him, only to discover that he is dead weeps in agony. Thomasin approaches him and Katherine screams at her to leave. She runs outside and William follows her.

Katherine prepares Caleb's body for burial when William drags Thomasin inside. Katherine orders him to get her from her sight, that she will not have her in the house. William insists that she in no witch and at his urging, Thomasin accuses the twins of making the covenant with the Devil in the shape of Black Phillip. William approaches the twins, who lie still upon the bed, and demands that they wake and answer the accusations against them. When they do not respond, he declares his children dissemblers and that he will not play a fool to their games.

Katherine declares that Caleb is damned and William replies that he cried Jesus, to which Katherine responds that the Devil will speak Scripture. Driven to tears, she proclaims that they are damned. William refuses to believe it and orders her to fetch the billhook so that he may smite Jonas as Abraham would his seed. He grabs Jonas, who wakes screaming, and Mercy then wakes and attempts to make him release her brother. Katherine begs him to stop as she weeps.

William locks the children in the goat shed with Black Phillip. He and Katherine later bury Caleb and he watches as she climbs into the grave and holds their son one last time before it is filled. Later that night, Katherine wakes from her sleep. She notices the silver cup upon its shelf and finds Caleb sitting before her, holding Samuel. She is overcome with joy and hugs Caleb. He tells her that they have longed to see her and she replies that she has longed to see them too.

She states that she will wake William, but Caleb tells her to let him sleep. He tells her that he and Samuel would see her often and asks if that would please her. She replies that it would and he tells her that he has brought a book for her and asks her to look at it with him. She tells him that she will but notices that Samuel is hungry and begins breastfeeding him. She laughs deliriously as a raven pecks at her breast.

### Death

*"The Devil is in thee and hath had thee. You are smeared of his sin. You reek of Evil. You have made a covenant with death!"
"Mother!"
"You bewitched thy brother, proud slut!"
"Stop it, Mother."
"Did you not think I saw thy sluttish looks to him, bewitching his eye as any whore?"
"What say you to me?"
"And thy father next!"
"Mother!"
"You took them from me! They are gone!"
"No!"
"You killed my children!"
"No!"
"You killed thy father!"
"Let go! Stop, stop. I love you! Please, Mother, I love you!"
"Witch! WITCH!"*
―Katherine and Thomasin[src]

Katherine wakes the next morning with blood staining her nightshirt over her breast. She goes outside and finds William dead with Thomasin kneeling over him. She grabs her daughter by the hair and demands to know what she has done. She asks where the twins are and Thomasin replies that she knows not what she saw, that she came from the sky. Katherine notices blood on Thomasin's hands and sobs as she declares that Thomasin is a witch. She declares that she is smeared of the Devil's sin and reeks of evil. She accuses her of bewitching Caleb and William and killing the twins.

Katherine attacks Thomasin, forcing her to the ground. Thomasin grabs a nearby billhook and slashes Katherine's forehead. Katherine is shocked, but begins strangling Thomasin as she screams manically. Thomasin slashes her several more times, killing her.

## Personality

*"Mother, have the goats been bedded down?"
"Nay."
"I will to it."
"Let it wait till the morrow. They dare not scape with this rain."
"Nay, I will to it. Please you, Mother."
"Come hither, child. Hurry back."*
―Thomasin and Katherine[src]
Katherine is initally a loving wife and mother, but falls into a deep depression when her infant son Samuel disappears. She blames her daughter Thomasin, who was looking after Samuel when he went missing, and is often cold and cruel to her. She later blames Thomasin for her silver cup going missing, but is affectionate to her when she learns that William sold it without telling her. The family's fortunes worsen and Katherine becomes increasingly desperate and anatgonistic. Once Caleb dies, Katherine is driven insane and upon discovering William dead and Mercy and Jonas missing the next morning, she manically attempts to murder Thomasin, who kills her in self defence.

## Religion

*"He hath cursed this family."
"No. He hath taken us into a very low condition to humble us and to show us more of his grace."
"Was not Christ was led into the wilderness to be ill met by the Devil?"*
―Katherine and William[src]
Katherine is a devout Christian, having been profoundly affected by a dream she had as a teenager in which she was with Jesus Christ upon the earth. However, Samuel's disappeance and the decline of her family's fortunes drive Katherine into depression and significantly weaken her faith. She is later met by an apparition of Caleb conjured by Satan, who presents his book to her, though it is unclear if she signs it.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Eggers, Robert, *The Witch*, A24, USA, February 19, 2016