The New England Tragedies
In Boston, Governor Endicott's son opposes the persecution of Quakers and tries to rescue Edith Christison; a royal order secures the prisoners' release, and the governor dies regretting his part in the violence. In Salem, Martha and Giles Corey face witchcraft accusations, and Giles refuses to plead before being pressed to death. A closing speech by Saint John rejects sectarian strife and recalls Christ's call to do his will.
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow · Genre: Tragedy, Dramatic Poetry, Historical Fiction · 36 chapters · 41,436 words
First lines
Dramatis Personae.
JOHN ENDICOTT - Governor. / JOHN ENDICOTT - His son. / RICHARD BELLINGHAM - Deputy Governor. / JOHN NORTON - Minister of the Gospel. / EDWARD BUTTER - Treasurer. / WALTER MERRY - Tithing-man. / NICHOLAS UPSALL - An old citizen. / SAMUEL COLE - Landlord of the Three Mariners.
Genres
- Tragedy — Governor Endicott dies after expressing regret over persecution, while Giles Corey is pressed to death for refusing to plead.
- Dramatic Poetry — Named speakers deliver verse dialogue in staged scenes of worship, trials, imprisonment, and public punishment.
- Historical Fiction — The dramas place their action in Boston in 1665 and Salem in 1692; the first prologue explicitly acknowledges grouping historical events together.
Tags
Quakers · religious persecution · Salem witch trials · witchcraft accusations · liberty of conscience · spectral evidence · verse drama
What this Textopian page supports
The New England Tragedies is listed on Textopian as a play by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Play
- Author: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Tragedy, Dramatic Poetry, Historical Fiction
- Length: 41,436 words
- Structure: 36 chapters, 1,072 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The New England Tragedies by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Contents
- John Endicott: Dramatis Personae and Prologue
- John Endicott, Act I, Scene 1
- John Endicott, Act I, Scene 2
- John Endicott, Act I, Scene 3
- John Endicott, Act II, Scene 1
- John Endicott, Act II, Scene 2
- John Endicott, Act II, Scene 3
- John Endicott, Act III, Scene 1
- John Endicott, Act III, Scene 2
- John Endicott, Act III, Scene 3
- John Endicott, Act IV, Scene 1
- John Endicott, Act IV, Scene 2
- John Endicott, Act IV, Scene 3
- John Endicott, Act IV, Scene 4
- John Endicott, Act IV, Scene 5
- John Endicott, Act V, Scene 1
- John Endicott, Act V, Scene 2
- John Endicott, Act V, Scene 3
- Giles Corey of the Salem Farms: Dramatis Personae and Prologue
- Giles Corey, Act I, Scene 1
- Giles Corey, Act I, Scene 2
- Giles Corey, Act I, Scene 3
- Giles Corey, Act II, Scene 1
- Giles Corey, Act II, Scene 2
- Giles Corey, Act II, Scene 3
- Giles Corey, Act III, Scene 1
- Giles Corey, Act III, Scene 2
- Giles Corey, Act III, Scene 3
- Giles Corey, Act III, Scene 4
- Giles Corey, Act IV, Scene 1
- Giles Corey, Act IV, Scene 2
- Giles Corey, Act V, Scene 1
- Giles Corey, Act V, Scene 2
- Giles Corey, Act V, Scene 3
- Giles Corey, Act V, Scene 4
- Finale: Saint John