Reading Reflection: Conjure Woman

The supernatural has always been a very vague idea since the beginning of time. Even in the Salem Witch trials, there was no real evidence that the people they were killing were actual “witches”. Ghosts are believed by many, even by those who have never even seen them. Aliens have never actually been captured or full exposed, yet many people believe they exist. The supernatural is unknown, and I believe that is what makes it so popular. People fear what they do not understand, and this is very relevant when it comes to magic and the supernatural. In the Conjure Woman and Other Tales by Charles W. Chesnutt, Annie believes the tales told be Uncle Julius, for she feels powerless and wants so badly to be out of her melancholy that she is desperate to try anything.  She even thinks a rabbit’s foot will solve her feelings of unease. When people feel lost or confused, they usually look for guidance to get back on track. The supernatural is extremely appealing because there is no solid proof of it, so there is just as much reason to believe it could be true versus not true. That glimmer of hope is attractive to the lost or confused, or just the plain believers. Plus, it seems pretty interesting in general. Yes there are not cold, hard facts present, but if you let your imagination wander, anything is possible. The idea of a lost soul that lingers where it once lived in human form, or that a special potion can make someone do something they never would, is quite intriguing. This brings up the question, where do we go after we die? This can also tie into religion, and the idea of believing something without ever physically seeing it. It’s interesting to see how some people believe so strongly in certain things, while other are adamant that it is not true or it does not exist. Like John and Annie, both have extremely opposite views of whether or not the tales told by Uncle Julius are true or false.