If I remember right there were some episodes where Samantha and the other Witches would talk about the hatred and prejudice they face from humans, sorta putting themselves in marginalized status..... I mean they are ALL POWERFUL and can do ANYTHING! That's hardly being oppressed! They may be a minority, but in this case they are a privileged powerful minority, who could literally overtake the human majority anytime they chose

Yes, this is exactly right. I've actually seen a very good deconstruction of the show from a Marxist perspective that Darrin is this object of ridicule, while the witches are a bunch of dilettantes who never work, but never lack for anything. And Sam's family are upper crust among witches.

I've often wondered if being mortal is Darrin's great flaw in Endora's eyes, or if it's just the fact that he has to go to work every day.

Yes, this is exactly right. I've actually seen a very good deconstruction of the show from a Marxist perspective that Darrin is this object of ridicule, while the witches are a bunch of dilettantes who never work, but never lack for anything. And Sam's family are upper crust among witches.

I've often wondered if being mortal is Darrin's great flaw in Endora's eyes, or if it's just the fact that he has to go to work every day.


The witches DO seem to like SOME mortals.... Larry Tate always seemed to be respected among Samantha's family for some reason lol

But yeah I often hear ppl compare the Witches on the show to black people, or LGBTQ people today being marginalized or misunderstood.... and I just don't think it's a good comparison when the witches literally have the power to do most ANYTHING they want.... By definition to be marginalized you have to be at a power disadvantage

Larry Tate always seemed to be respected


Exactly.

RE: marginalized or misunderstood (**ahem**) Salem witch trials anyone?

RE: marginalized or misunderstood (**ahem**) Salem witch trials anyone?


Still though, the Witches on the show obviously are not subject to human laws... If they were on trial they could simply take out the entire court with a blast of fire lol Can you imagine a mob trying to burn Maurice at the stake!? Poor them lol
I think Samantha even said that, that no real witch would have stood still to being executed.

That's what I'm saying, I don't see how they are marginalized when they are virtually omnipotent and can do virtually ANYTHING they want

Still though, the Witches on the show obviously are not subject to human laws... If they were on trial they could simply take out the entire court with a blast of fire

Do not (many) Blacks act like they still are "victims" of slavery? Over a hundred years later? Why should witches be held to a time limit?

Seems there is a faint recollection of Dr Bombay lamenting about "mortal privilege"

I guess one might argue that the witch trials created an aura of scorn and shame around the witches, reinforcing negative stereotypes they suffer under to this day, irrespective of their personal empowerment?

Yes, this is exactly right. I've actually seen a very good deconstruction of the show from a Marxist perspective that Darrin is this object of ridicule, while the witches are a bunch of dilettantes who never work, but never lack for anything. And Sam's family are upper crust among witches.

I've often wondered if being mortal is Darrin's great flaw in Endora's eyes, or if it's just the fact that he has to go to work every day.

I think being mortal is the flaw in Endora's eyes because the show is a metaphor for a mixed marriage, so she and Maurice are prejudiced. So is Darrin.

Also: this sounds like an interesting read. Do you have a link?

Seems there is a faint recollection of Dr Bombay lamenting about "mortal privilege"

I don't think that ever happened.

RE: marginalized or misunderstood (**ahem**) Salem witch trials anyone?

Even in the context of the show (in season 7 when they actually went to Salem, though not in certain other episodes), the witches explain there were no real witches in Salem- they were humans, victims of mortal prejudice.

the witches explain there were no real witches in Salem- they were humans, victims of mortal prejudice.

Ahh, but they were still victims of the persecution. Forced to wear the stereotype.


I guess there might be considerable political capital to be gained by "owning" persecution. (disallowing claims of persecution by others) But I don't believe trying to minimize the level of suffering endured by the witches is going to gain much traction for other groups intent upon playing the victim card.

Afterall, it's only a TV show :D

Also: this sounds like an interesting read. Do you have a link?


No, unfortunately it was in an actual newspaper just before the internet started taking off.

The complaint of the witches ignores what's obvious from their conduct in the show: that they are themselves contemptuous of mortals, treat them as the object of jokes, steal their stuff, place them in precarious situations.

Still though, the Witches on the show obviously are not subject to human laws... If they were on trial they could simply take out the entire court with a blast of fire lol Can you imagine a mob trying to burn Maurice at the stake!? Poor them lol
I think Samantha even said that, that no real witch would have stood still to being executed.

That's what I'm saying, I don't see how they are marginalized when they are virtually omnipotent and can do virtually ANYTHING they want

I don' think they were omnipotent. They couldn't correct each other's spells, for example.

The complaint of the witches ignores what's obvious from their conduct in the show: that they are themselves contemptuous of mortals, treat them as the object of jokes, steal their stuff, place them in precarious situations.

Oh, for sure. The witches and warlocks could be quite cruel to mortals (besides Darrin). I'm reminded of episode 10 when Maurice and Endora fondly remember the rude little clerk in Zurich who they then made "very, very LITTLE." As in, because he was rude to them, they permanently shrank him. I mean, geez, maybe he was just having an off day, so is that any reason to permanently curse him for the rest of his life? On the other hand, it's wish fulfillment for the viewer- it's fun to imagine having magical powers to exert revenge on those who have wronged you. There's a reason why the pilot scene of Samantha getting magical revenge on Sheila is so popular.

In general, though, mortals are basically just treated as playthings to them, like in this chapter of a story with Rollo (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6502928/5/Missing-Pieces-Pre-Witched). The only mortals witches and warlocks consider worthwhile are the ones they deem superior, like Shakespeare. (Like prejudiced humans, they make exceptions for the "good ones.") Everyone else they look down on, and are every bit as prejudiced against mortals as they are to them. Except mortals can't really do anything to them.