The Appearance of Fairies in Necromancy: Treatment, Uses, and Powers
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2019-07-08
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en
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The purpose of this study was to find out how fairies were represented in necromancy after they began to be called on by British conjurors from the 1550s onwards. Before that, fairies only existed in folklore. This paper starts by discussing what fairies are and where they came from and determining what contemporaries thought about fairy magic. The research begins with discerning fairy names from other spirit names so that the two groups can be compared. Descriptions of physical appearances in the Offices of Spirits and emotional expressions such as insults and praises in conjurations showed that fairies were held in higher regard than other spirits. Finally, a discussion of powers and uses that fairies do and other spirits do not have, indicated that fairies were a valuable addition to necromancy. Fairies could do all the things demons could do and more, but were deemed less evil.
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