Exorcism story

rbt1985e4x09 · 1990-11-02

A woman plans to expose her nemesis as a witch to the public and most importantly to heir inner circle of friends. Directed by: Brad Turner. Story by: Ray Bradbury.

11 total · 1 choice · 6 major · 4 minor

Theme	Level	Motivation
rivalry	choice	The story turns on the two neighbors, Elmira and Clara, vying for the presidency of their ladies lodge.
acute anxiety	major	In one interpretation of the story, Clara played on Elmira's superstitious nature by cultivating an image that Clara herself was a powerful witch. This was in an effort to prevail over Elmira in the ladies lodge election for president. Elmira became paranoid and made a fool of herself just as Clara had intended.
black magic	major	Clara cultivated for herself an image that she practiced the black arts. Among other things, she ordered a tome on white and black magic by Albertus Magnus, knowing full well that word of her acquisition would reach her rival.
neighbor and neighbor	major	The story turns on the two neighbors, Elmira and Clara, vying for the presidency of their ladies lodge.
the desire for prestige	major	The story turns on the two neighbors, Elmira and Clara, vying for the presidency of their ladies lodge.
witch	major	Elmira was convinced that Clara used witchcraft to cause Elmira misfortunes. Clara made no secret of studying the dark arts, though she didn't seem to believe in the supernatural aspects of it.
witchcraft	major	Elmira was convinced that her neighbor, Clara, was a full-blown witch. Elmira blamed Clare for causing her various misfortunes by means of witchcraft. Whether Clara actually practiced the black arts was left open, but she at minimum used Elmira's fears to her advantage.
creative writing	minor	In the introduction, Ray Bradbury shared with the viewer the wellsprings of creativity that inspire his writing.
husband and wife	minor	Sam and Elmira Brown were married.
the nature of creativity	minor	In his introduction, Ray Bradbury gave his viewers an intimate window into his writing room, and some of the self-professed sources of creativity that lay about within it.