WHAT DO THE WITCH'S REPRESENT IN 'HOCUS POCUS'?
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
What better way to treat for children at Halloween is a sturdy lesson about learning lessons?
Disney's 1993 Halloween hit "Hocus Pocus" serves as a wonderful teaching tool for children. Its colorful comedy and the superb cast make it fan favorite throughout its sixteen years on screens throughout the world. Its atmosphere is timeless, and its lesson becomes more relevant with every passing year.
What lesson might that be?
What about the heartless villain, Winifred Sanderson, stands out the most?
From what horrors do the younger generation run?
What positive influence do the Sandersons leave behind?
"Hocus Pocus" is a battle between two worlds: three ancient, misunderstood women and three young, naive children where the fate of the infamous town of Salem hangs in the balance. Salem goes down in history for its intolerance and fear of change. Between the years of 1692 and 1693, nineteen innocent people were senselessly murdered for witchcraft by a town of closed-mind Bible thumpers. On its surface, Hocus Pocus explores an alternate reality where at least three of those victims are guilty and black magic does exist. Winifred, Mary, and Sarah Sanderson manage to claim the life of a little girl to achieve immortality.
They fail and die. 300 years later, Salem continues to celebrate the legacy of those guilty women. They celebrate the victory of causing the witch's demise. However, the legacy comes back to bite the town when the witch's return and reak havoc on Salem in their pursuit of immortality once more. Three young people stand in their way when they steal Winefred's beloved book and flee into town.
One thing comes to mind in Winefred's quest to reclaim her most precious possession.
What happened to that level of dedication to reading?
The younger generation in "Hocus Pocus" appears to resist the quest for knowledge at all costs. High school is referred to as "Hell" and "a prison". Meanwhile, every unlikable figure in Max's life is dress as a witch, including his little sister and his teacher. Max actively shuts himself off from the world around him. He expresses a clear hatred for the town, ignores his schoolwork, and refuses to take his sister trick-or-treating on Halloween night. Instead, he would rather think about girls and obnoxiously play his drum kit. He is a child at heart, resisting the lure to grow in knowledge.
For the remainder of his Halloween night, he resists his inevitable growth. The Sandersons represent that growth, especially Winefred. This witch, though cold and dangerous, is the most intelligent woman in Salem. She is extremely powerful. Her dark magic is effortless. Her thirst for knowledge is insatiable, which she demonstrates in her curiosity of the 20th Century and its technologies. She absorbs knowledge wherever she goes. That makes her an extremely dangerous foe, especially when she reunites with her book. Her sisters are gifted, but they do not demonstrate magic. This is because they do not read from the book. That book demonstrates power. Whoever reads from it gains the advantage in their battle.
Thanks to Allison, the "clever white witch", Max accepts the importance of reading. She convinces Max to read the book. Only when they read do they learn how to defeat the Sandersons. Without that knowledge, they would continue running around Salem in hysterics until their enemies inevitably catch up with them. Without knowledge, the young generation of Salem would perish.
Instead, the Sanderson sisters perish. In one heated moment, Winefred succumbs to her emotions. Her lust for vengeance against Max and Dani overpowers her intellect. Thus, she makes a simple but fatal mistake. Had she kept her head, she might have survived the night.
Fortunately, her legacy remains. Allison is the one to carry the torch. Her studious attitude gives Salem hope for the pursuit of knowledge and love for books. Not only does she carry on the love for knowledge, but she also bears the capacity to use her intelligence for good. She becomes a new and improved generation of intelligent young adults.
This classic movie can once again inspire humanity's love for reading. It's an art that dwindles with every generation. How can we keep the legacy alive?
