Coven

As presented in Palmer's writing, the witches accused in the days of the Puritans all had very similar traits. They were typically middle aged, had a history with home remedy healing, and were not classified as upper society. Contrary to the old views of witches, contemporary witches are portrayed as quite the opposite; they're attractive, seductive, empowered females. In season three of American Horror Story: Coven (AHS), this is especially proven because even though the witches are outcasts, they are still powerful and feared.

Although one may not immediately see the similarities between the Puritans and the AHS witches, the two are strikingly similar. The first Puritan women accused of being witches were Tituba, Sarah Good, and Sarah Osborne. Even though all three women were oppressed for being accused of witchcraft, Tituba was even more oppressed by Osborne and Good because she was a crazy Indian slave. To relate it to the show, one of the main conflicts taking place is the ongoing fight between the descendants of the witches who survived the Salem witch trials and the voodoo women of New Orleans. The two quarrels of the real trials and the show are very similar because even though the coven is discriminated against for acting a little different, they turn around and oppress the voodoo practitioners even further for being wild and uncivilized.

Even though oppression is a theme which remains constant as time passes, one theme AHS added to the equation is female empowerment. The show gives purpose to the female characters beyond being just sex objects because they are strong, resilient, and very clever. While their sexual endeavors are by no means hidden by the show, they are acknowledged frequently without being the women's main defining characteristic. Fiona and Madison are well known man-eaters, but they are defined by their uncontrollable desire for power. Heck, Zoe causes every man she has sex with to die, but viewers remember her more for her compassion and thirst for knowledge.