Sarah Good
A tragic victim of 1692 hysteria whose legacy echoes through American occult lore.
Sarah Good is a historical figure from the Salem witch trials, referenced in the broader context of witchcraft curses that the Warrens investigate. The source does not mention Sarah Good by name, but it describes a "book of Stregherian witchcraft" and a satanic curse passed through a witch's totem, which connects to the film's themes of historical occult practices. The Warrens encounter a curse rooted in witchcraft, similar to the type of persecution seen in Salem. Her story is not directly depicted in the film, but the lore of witchcraft and ancestral curses is central to the plot, involving a satanic cult and a curse that affects the Glatzel family.
- Role
- Historical Figure / Accused Witch
- Affiliation
- Salem Village, Massachusetts
- Status
- Deceased (Executed)
- Supernatural Link
- Ancestral Curse Precedent
Lore & Background
The source details a satanic curse passed through a witch's totem, left by an occultist from the Disciples of the Ram cult. This curse causes possession and violence, similar to historical witchcraft accusations. The Warrens discover that the occultist, Isla, is the daughter of a former priest who studied the cult. The curse is lifted by destroying her altar, which contains a cup later placed in the Warrens' artifact room. This lore connects to historical witch trials, where fear and persecution led to wrongful executions, but the film focuses on a specific 1981 case involving Arne Cheyenne Johnson.
In Their Own Story
In 1981, Ed and Lorraine Warren document the exorcism of 8-year-old David Glatzel. Arne Johnson invites a demon into his body to save the boy, leading to a murder. The Warrens discover a witch's totem in the Glatzel home, part of a satanic curse. They trace it to an occultist, Isla, who kills her father Kastner. Lorraine destroys the altar, breaking the curse. Arne is convicted of manslaughter and serves five years. The film is based on the real trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, the first American murder trial where demonic possession was claimed as a defense.
Reader's Guide
In the Conjuring Universe, historical witchcraft curses are depicted through the Disciples of the Ram cult and Stregherian witchcraft. The curse is passed via a totem, causing possession and violence. The Warrens must destroy the occultist's altar to lift the curse. This mirrors real-world witch trials, where fear and superstition led to accusations. The film shows that curses can be broken by addressing their source, such as an altar or totem. Unlike external demons, these curses are rooted in human actions and can be resolved through investigation and spiritual intervention. The Warrens' methods involve archival research and visions to uncover the curse's origin.
Did You Know?
- The film is based on the trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, the first American murder trial where demonic possession was claimed as a defense.
- The curse in the film is passed through a witch's totem, left by an occultist from the Disciples of the Ram cult.
- The occultist Isla is the daughter of a former priest, Kastner, who violated clerical celibacy.
- The Warrens destroy the occultist's altar to lift the curse, which includes a cup later placed in their artifact room.
- Arne Johnson was convicted of manslaughter and served five years in prison, marrying Debbie Glatzel while incarcerated.
More in History & Mythology
Elsewhere in the The Conjuring universe
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