How Does Elizabeth Proctor Use Rhetoric In The Crucible

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Arguments and debates are a part of everyday life, being used to convince others to agree with a certain point of view or belief. Elizabeth Proctor makes a perpetual effort to argue during The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, while the chaos of the Salem Witch Trials continues . She employs an earnest and dignified tone simply to convince Reverend Hale that she has nothing to do with witchcraft and never has during her Puritan life. Elizabeth Proctor utilizes critical rhetorical devices including tone, logos, and pathos throughout Arthur Miller's The Crucible to argue that she is innocent of witchcraft. Primarily, as referenced before, Elizabeth Proctor makes use of a dignified tone to help buttress her defense of her innocence. However, she also intertwines a confused and naive tone when she questions "[the significance] a needle" and the reason for Abigail's allegation (Miller 72). These questions demonstrate Elizabeth's ignorance and naivety of the matter. The fact that Elizabeth is as unknowledgeable as she is about witchcraft aids in not only making her seem innocent but also in hurting Abigail's reputation. Previously, Abigail's word had been deemed trustworthy and honest, however Elizabeth's questions and the tone used to express her confusion contradicts Abigail's claims. Elizabeth causes Abigail to become less …show more content…

She remains calm in order to gain the trust of Hale, and in an attempt to reach her ulterior goal of returning the town back to its orderly and tranquil past. Often times trust is one of the fundamental bases to a functioning society. During the Red Scare in America, few individuals trusted one another, and the country as a whole erupted into chaos, but over time, Americans began to trust one another again, illustrating how trust can bring a frantic society back to

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