The Trial of Anne Hutchinson
Uploaded by tyson_626 on Feb 23, 2005
The Trial of Anne Hutchinson
Anne Hutchinson was a threat to the ideals of the Puritan community because she would not subjugate her own personal convictions and beliefs to those held by the ministers and the civil authority. She was thought of as having broken covenant with the community by associating with those already banned and by freely speaking her differing ideas. These actions were compounded by the fact that she was a strong, well-spoken, charismatic individual.
Anne's strength can be seen at the beginning of the examination. First the trial was moved from Boston to Newton to isolate her from her supporters. As a woman, alone, she was brought in front of a court full of powerful men. Then harshly rebuked by the Governor being accused of "troubling the peace of the commonwealth and churches" by "promoting and divulging of those opinions that are causes of this trouble." (Wheeler/Becker p. 35) I imagine this was orchestrated in part to cause Anne to be ashamed and fearful. The Governor may have hoped that this would have led her to humility and to ask forgiveness and then to go back to her place of quietly tending to her family. He must have been disappointed and angered when instead of backing down she challenged his confrontation stating, "I hear no things laid to my charge."(Wheeler/Becker p.36)
Next the Governor questions Anne concerning her association with Mr. Wheelwright. Mr. Wheelwright's sermons had been considered divisive to the colony and hence he had been banished. Anne was accused of being guilty of the same sin through entertaining Mr. Wheelwright and his supporters. When she questions, "What law do they transgress?" Gov. W. answers, "The law of God and of the state." I seems that the Governor considered Mr. Wheelwrights views to be detrimental to the community. By bringing division to the community Mr. Wheelwright had broken covenant with the Puritan church, then state, and ultimately God. Anne's empathy toward Wheelwright was then thought of as covenant breaking.
The Governor now asks, 'Why do you keep such a meeting at your house as you do every week upon a set day?"(Wheeler/Becker p.37) This being lawful and even encouraged Anne seems agitated that she would be question regarding it. As for the legality of it the Governor states that she needed no...