The Crucible Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

significant attention. Similar to Abigail, who accused Tituba of dancing with the devil after being caught, McCarthy also targeted numerous government officials. As the investigation progressed, McCarthy rose to fame while his victims endured the consequences of his unfounded allegations.

Both Abigail and McCarthy aimed to take advantage of the existing fear for their own personal benefit. While Abigail sought attention, McCarthy craved recognition. In the play, Abigail began a harmful falsehood in order to achieve her objective of removing Elizabeth Proctor and creating a spectacle. As mentioned in the play, "John—I am waitin’ for you every night" (Miller 838). It is evident that Abigail intends to depict Elizabeth as a witch in order to eliminate her and ensure she becomes the focus.

This passage demonstrates that Abigail and McCarthy share a similar motive in using fears and exploits to deceive the town of Salem. Additionally, Senator McCarthy aims to use the presence of communism to enhance his reputation for the purpose of securing re-election. Both Williams and McCarthy exploit weaknesses and fears within the system or society, seizing the opportune moment to gain optimal attention. McCarthy himself admitted to enjoying the manipulation of others during the "Red Scare" era (Oakley 207).

During the meeting, he had the power to create chaos and uncertainty at his will, just like Abigail who could manipulate her audience. Abigail managed to persuade people that Tituba coerced her into drinking blood (Miller 847). Similarly, McCarthy captivated nearly everyone in town by discussing the Communist Party during the "Red Scare."

The manipulators took the spotlight; McCarthy for his ability to incorporate numbers and figures into his

discussions on communism, and Abigail for her talent in becoming the leader of a group of girls who hold power, according to Miller. Both McCarthy and Abigail had to navigate suspicion from their opponents, including the Democratic Party and John Proctor. McCarthy resorted to slandering those in power to manipulate his followers' thoughts, while Abigail manipulated the girls into cooperating with her to falsely accuse innocent individuals of witchcraft.

Both McCarthy and Abigail used fear and manipulation to their advantage. McCarthy's "list" of names created a sense of fear and raised concerns about communism in the US. Similarly, Abigail exploited the fear of witchcraft in Salem. Both McCarthy and Abigail started out innocent, but as they realized how easy it was to control and cause harm, they became mischievous and gregarious.