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Martha Tinsdale has it in for Cassandra Nightingale right from the start of the movies. She is absolutely adamant in her belief that both Cassie and her shop are evil, and that the shop must be closed down. When she has town meetings she refuses to allow others to speak and simply tells everyone, as if it’s fact, how evil Cassie and the shop are and all the reasons they must be driven out. She does this with her two teen sons in the room.
Since their mother has been so forceful in her beliefs and forced those beliefs on others, and stated so clearly that “anything and everything” needs to be done to get the shop closed, the boys take action to give their mother what she wants. They spray paint the front of the Bell, Book and Candle, and smash windows and displays in the back. They think they’re doing a good thing in driving the evil out of town.
Their mother set such a horrible example and was so forceful in her wrong beliefs that she turned her own children into criminals. It was sad to see that when the boys were arrested Martha was more worried about their futures due to the scandal than about the crime and damage they had done. Luckily, Cassie chooses not to press charges. The boys however, are made to clean and repair the damage.
The lesson here is that as a parent especially, and as a person in general, you need to set the example you want others to follow. Your actions will be seen by others and may be imitated. Mrs. Tinsdale’s closed-minded anger and forcefulness spilled over onto her children. Imagine how things could have been different if she was open-minded, understanding and rational. We always need to be mindful of how we present ourselves to the world, and what impression we might leave on others with our words and actions.
