The Crucible Rhetorical Analysis

The Crucible addresses the issue of racial oppression in America mainly through the character of Tituba. She is the manifestation of the ill-treatment slaves received and a victim of the paradoxical belief system of Puritanism. From the beginning of the play, Arthur Miller portrays the adverse treatment upon Tituba. Tituba offers her care for the unconscious Betty, yet her kind intentions are blatantly ignored by Reverend Parris, who uses a scorning tone to scream “Out of my sight!” in front of her. This event is only a prelude to the absolute ignorance of the emotions and thoughts of Tituba – the color of her skin marks her as an unequal member of society, one who is not worthy to carry a conversation with. The aforementioned trend continues on as the ruling racial group of the society discusses the status of

Goody Putnam gives out the statement that Tituba is able to “conjure up the dead.” Tituba’s association with the Caribbean automatically sets up a link between her and the ‘mystical’ practices of Vodun. The habitants’ nativist sentiment is invoked, as Tituba’s traditional rituals and dances are all considered to be demonic. From that point on, without a need to provide additional argumentation, Reverend Parris accepts the possibility of Tituba’s witchery as a cold fact. This accusation had been formalized without a single objection from Tituba herself, illustrating the utter imbalance of power within the community in which the slaves fates’ were solely determined by their masters. Reverend Hale and Parris’ direct interaction with her only serves to affirm the pre-existing bias that they hold against Tituba, as the option of refuting the accusation does not exist for the unfortunate slave. Finally, Parris’s vengeful remarks claiming that he will “whip [Tituba] to her death” if she does not