But Mathers was afraid, and fear overruled clearheaded reason. It made the councilman unpredictable, drove him into a corner. And like Steve Grant, Grim understood the potentially dangerous consequences: the primitive human urge to channel fear, transform it into rage … and find a scapegoat. It was a devotion bordering on fanaticism, and it was happening all over town. Who had mocked the witch? What had changed to make her want to punish us? Everyone looked close to home for some unusual recent event and made the obvious connection. The Wicker Burning. The coming of the Outsiders during the
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The channeling of fear into rage and acceptance of superstition is a driver in the first half of the book. What they fear is their reaction, which is an interesting thing to consider since the witch is a supernatural entity. They fear a cliche reaction to witches that dates back to the 1600s.
