For our first synthesis essay, we analyzed whether Arthur Miller’s portrayal of Tituba in The Crucible was historically accurate. My thesis was that Miller portrayed Tituba inaccurately because he overcommitted to an allegory over truth, exaggerated her association with witchcraft, and reflected racial stereotypes that mirrored the prejudices of his own time period.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay

For our first rhetorical analysis essay, we analyzed an excerpt from Arthur Miller’s essay “Why I Wrote The Crucible.” My thesis was that Miller wrote The Crucible not only as a political response to McCarthyism but also as a deeply personal reflection on guilt, morality, and hysteria. I argued that Miller conveys this through vivid imagery, appeals to ethos, and a reflective tone that reveal how his own struggles are intertwined with the themes of his play.