Stocks Punishment

Stocks Punishment

Stocks are a form of punishment tools used in the Puritans community in the 1630’s. It is basically two pieces of wide wood board hinged together horizontally on one side, with a locking mechanism on the other end. In the between the upper piece and the lower piece that is secured to the floor, there are four holes on the middle to accommodate a persons’ limbs into it. In Dedham people were watchful of each others’ actions and when they see something suspicious they report it to the town selectmen. People back then thought if people did something other than what they agreed to believe in, then it probably mean evil had entered the person’s body making them to act. So locking them up to tickle their feet would make them laugh and make Satan leave. When the transgressors were locked into the stocks they were subjected to tickles. When the practice is done, the used to be evil possessed people were welcomed back to the community.
If I were to be restrained in a stocks it would be a once of a life time experience. I’m by nature a control freak, so being put into a shocks would take that away from me and remove me out of my comfort zone.   I imagine this is the way how it would go. Town people inform me of what will happen to me, my heart skips a few beats. After the initial shock has passed, reality sinks in faster than I can handle. The very first thing they do is have people drag me to the shocks. They have to use force to make me summit because I refused to be locked into it. One guy raises the upper portion of the stocks. They drag my feet to the opening on the stocks and forcibly place it in place. Then they proceed to cuff my hands into the center holes. Needless to say the boards are hard as rock. As the stocks are locked, it make a few hard metal clicking sounds. It sends shiver down my spine, that last for minutes and minutes. Hours have passed and my hands and legs are starting to feel numb because blood circulation is restricted. Four hours have...