A Rhetorical Analysis of The Salem Witch Trials

The Witch Trials of 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts have powered a plethora of emotions towards individuals throughout the previous 300 years. The occasions of the trials still influence the public today. Many points concerning the Salem Witch Trials can be found from the excess information that we have: documentations from the court transcripts, and the declarations of the villagers who survived the frenzy. Individuals who were denounced as witches were blamed for a wide range of reasons: not going to church, being a hermit, and or supporting other “witches”; conversing with yourself or acting weird could have landed you an allegation as well.

First and foremost, the writer’s purpose for composing the article was to inform the reader about witches and the historical event that were going on at that time. The Salem Witch Trials told about its past and how individuals responded to witchcraft. It clarified what witchcraft is and what it does to individuals. In addition, the style the author used in the article was argumentative; the creator was attempting to clarify the past of witchcraft to influence individuals to believe that they exist. This was a compelling style to utilize when the author wrote the passage.

The theme was to stand up for what you believe in. In the article, the villagers needed to determine which side their peers belonged in, either they were a witch or not. The villagers needed to stand up and voice their opinions regardless of what other individuals thought. The author was trying to imply that witches are authentic and that there is evidence considering the trials.

As a result, the thesis was provided throughout the text: there were many individuals blamed for the trials, among them were particularly females. In any case, the fascinating point is that, when and if blamed, these individuals were not allowed to prove their guilty; they remained a witch. Trials were not reasonable; the witches were thought to be liable regardless of what they had said. Females were the focus of witchcraft and once assumed a witch, they were hopeless.

The structure provided in the article was sequential and followed in a logical order. The text structure provided a summary of The Salem Witch Trials including the introduction then following with important information. The body begins after the first paragraph introduction; it’s the paragraph that first explains thoroughly what is going on. Within the article, transition words are used, examples include: following, with, and also; these are casual transition words. The ethos of the author was to persuade individuals to believe that this time and events going on were real.

Overall, after reading The Salem Witch Trials individuals are to agree and believe that all going on is true. What was done in this time era I do not believe is real, and if it was the villagers were insane. No doubt, the passage written was entertaining and eye-catching, but it does take a lot of people to make up this world, and if being a witch is what makes them happy, so be it.

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