Rhetorical Analysis Of Cotton Mather

S.O.A.P.S.Tone: Cotton Mather

Speaker: Throughout the document the narrator differs; it shifts between a historian, Cotton Mather, and the numerous people who testified against Martha Carrier.

Cotton Mather was a male minister, prolific author, puritan, and pamphleteer. He attended the Harvard College, lived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and had quite a drastic shift of emotions and dilemmas. He’s also most notably known for his influences with the Salem Witch Trials. With this information, I could assume that his writing would be heavily based on religious ideals and ethics; which is influenced by him being a Puritan and the Salem Witch Trails.

Occasion: Due to the varying authors, the document could have different occasions. From the

historian perspective, it could be written to further understand the history of Cotton Mather. Cotton Mather could have written his sermon in the fear of the Enlightenment; he could have used the witches to create anxiety, terror, and dismay among the colonist. Causing them to have a stronger religious connection. Also, this sermon could have prompted or influenced the Great Awakening; which was the revitalization of religion among the colonies.
The historian could have publicized the document because of necessity of knowledge on Cotton Mather’s life. Cotton Mather’s sermon could have been released because of the impending impact of the Enlightenment. Lastly, the testimonies could have been published to display the reasons Martha Carrier was “proved” to be a witch.
Audience: The historian doesn’t identify an audience; yet it’s most likely students.

Cotton Mather and the testimonies audiences are the colonist and Puritans. The historian’s audience are students from the ages of 15 and older; due to the understanding of history and religious events. The audience of Cotton Mather’s sermon and the testimonies are likely male and female colonist from the ages 20 and older. The language of Mather’s sermon is similar to the old European speech. Mather’s sermon and the testimonies evoke the ideals of Hell through the presence of the devil and witches. The historian alludes to the times of the conquering of the New World and the Great

Awakening.
Purpose: The historian’s purpose of writing the document was to teach students about the history of Cotton Mather. Cotton Mather’s reasoning of writing his sermon was to influence the grasp of religion and reject the ideals of the Enlightenment. The testimonies were created to demonstrate the reasoning of Martha Carrier being a witch. The historian’s conveys this through describing the history of Cotton Mather. Cotton Mather and the testimonies expresses the message through evoking the fears of Hell and witches among the audience.
This document is supposed to make the reader understand the history of Cotton Mather and his influences upon the Salem Witch Trails.

It conveys the emotions of bewilderment, misery, terror, and grief. Applying this document to the 21st century, it seems chaotic. I felt confused to why Cotton Mather caused anxiety among the colonist. Looking at his history of Mather and the descriptions of witches; he could simply be identified as a witch. Mather had three wives; two died and one went crazy. He also had fifteen children; only two of them lived to witness their father’s death. With his wavering emotions and mentality, he thought that the devil was corrupting his life. Hence, why he stated he felt the devil’s presence in the colonies. He tried to convict other people as witches, trying to find some sense to why he always felt disheartened and dejected in the

colonies.
Subject: The historian’s subject of is the history of Cotton’s life. This is inferred through the restating of Mather’s life. For example; it included quotes like: “…Cotton Mather attended Harvard Collage.” and “He lost two wives and saw his third wife go insane…”. It is presented through a chronological explanation of Mather’s history.
Cotton Mather’s sermon and the testimonies share a similar subject; the presence of Hell, the devil, and witches in the colonies. It’s inferred by the repetition among the two sources. To further the subject, they included quotes like: “The devil thus irritated, immediately tried all sorts of methods to overturn this poor plantation…” and “…the devil has made a dreadful knot of witches in the country, and by the help of witches has dreadfully increased that knot…”. Cotton Mather’s sermon is explained by a description of witches and why the devil is present throughout the colony. The testimonies are presented through a fragment of everyone’s dialogue.
Tone: The historian has a calm and determined sense of state; he wants to completely present the history of Cotton Mather to the reader. The historian uses words like he, although, and his to emphasize that he is retelling Mather’s life. He seems rather disgusted by Mather being involved in the Salem Witch Trails by his tone throughout those sections. It’s revealed by the choices of words throughout the document.
Cotton Mather and the testimonies seemed to have a fearful and anguished sense of state; they wanted to rid the colony of witches. Words like devil, God, hell, unusual expresses their tone. The author(s) are fearful, enraged, and resentful towards the witches. It’s revealed through the harsh dialogue and descriptive explanations throughout the documents.