What witches are meaner? English or Norwegian?

Which witches are considered meaner, English or Norwegian?

What witches are meaner? English or Norwegian? 1) English witches 2) Norwegian witches 3) Both English and Norwegian witches are equally mean 4) Cannot be determined

Answer:

Final answer: The 'meanness' of English or Norwegian witches cannot be determined as it is a subjective attribute based on literature and folklore.

The question 'What witches are meaner? English or Norwegian?' is likely based on perceptions from literature and folklore and not from factual history or culture. Assessing the 'meanness' of witches from England or Norway would be subjective and dependent on the stories and representations in various cultural contexts.

The historical depiction of witches has been complex. For example, during the Roman period, witches were often conflated with poisoners and depicted as devious elements within society. This is illustrated by the scholarly work of Pauline Ripat, who explored the Roman perspectives on women, wise women, and witches (Phoenix, 2016).

Additionally, the archetype of witches in literature, such as those in Shakespeare’s 'Macbeth', adds another layer to our understanding of witch characteristics. These literary witches are famous for their riddles and prophecies, communicating in cryptic language about fate and destiny, rather than outright meanness. The witches in 'Macbeth' for instance, are symbolic of fate and influence the characters with their prophecies.

Overall, the characterization of witches has evolved, and their portrayal can range from the malevolent to the more ambiguous or even benevolent, as shown in ethnographic research by cultural anthropologists like Alma Gottlieb.