John Proctor's Reputation In The Crucible

After trying to deny working with the devil, John ends up confessing. John knew that if he confessed, that it would ruin Abigail's plan to be with him. Judge Danforth tells John that if he signs a confession, him and Elizabeth can go free. John signs the confession, but then rips up the confession when he finds out it will be hung on the church door. “Beguile me not!

He was ready to lie to stay alive but to make his confession official, he had to sign an official document which would be made public to all. John’s name had already been tainted with the lechery revelation and now everyone would know he had admitted to dealing with the devil also. In memory of those who died, he chose to keep the last shred of dignity he had left and ripped the signed document. John had finally found something pleasing about his character, and he was going to die protecting this recently discovered

Reverend Parris “For surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it.''- Rev. Parris Reputation is the defining factor of all humanity. In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, reputation seems to be the main focal point of most characters. Reverend Parris, the minister of a small town in Massachusetts with a villainous past, allows reputation to influence his everyday life. In this classic short story, Rev. Parris demonstrates the importance of reputation by greediness, hypocrisy, and fictitious thoughts.

He does not come to this decision right away and first decides to confess to witchcraft in order to live before it is revealed that his confession will be nailed to the church door. He cannot bear to see his signature tied to lies and begs Judge Danforth to “leave [him his] name,” because, like the beginning of the play, he wants to protect it, but this time from sin rather than the judgement of his community (143). By refusing to commit another sin, John is finally able to forgive himself and expresses this by declaring that “[he does] think [he sees] some shred of goodness in [himself],” (144). This decision is both an expression of self preservation, because he is saving himself in the name of his religion, and righteousness, because is doing what is best for the largest amount of

Lifeless, dangling among the gallows. All is still and somber as those who gathered near examine the display. This reaction towards criminals of such calibre, convicted of witchcraft, is unexpected. Instead of celebrating the lifting of these evil spirits, the people stare at the swaying corpses of three people they all knew well. Rebecca Nurse, a highly religious pillar within the community possessed a peace that would calm children when she drew near.

Closely following his act of adultery with Abigail Williams, we begin to see the cracks in Proctor’s persona and personal image. A veil of secrecy is apparent in John and Elizabeth’s marriage, with John covering up the truth whenever he needs to, and as Abigail catalyzes the witch hysteria, John is forced by society and self-preservation to continue with his incessant mistruths. Eventually we begin to notice that John grows heavy with stress and anxiety, and as he walks more deeply into this dark chasm of dishonesty, it gets more difficult for him to find his way out. One thing that remains constant, however, is Proctor’s sense of honor and the importance of his own

Reverend Parris does not want his good name to be defamed either. Parris is referred all around the town as the churchly figure. Most of the citizens don 't like how he is, although he is respected for his beliefs. During the trials, Parris knows that some of the people being in the trials are not guilty. For example, if he would say that a person did not see the devil, he would be accused of being with the devil.

His own worries are expressed when Parris exclaims, “But if you trafficked with the spirits in the forest I must know it now, for surely my enemies will and they will ruin me with it”(Miller 1131). He knows that if people were to find out, he could lose everything he worked for. Therefore, Parris does everything in his power to at least prove someone guilty, and in the process, completely goes against the morals he teaches. He is seen as a Godly man who is supposed to teach integrity. However, instead he becomes a man that cares less about the truth and more of preserving his own

John Proctor here is reinstating that he wants to continue if he has his name and if Danforth and the court cannot provide that to him he does not know how he could possibly go on. Based on the quote John’s quality of life would eventually prove to be dreary if he did confess as he would feel like he no longer had a soul. Although John knew it would be a risk for him to confess his wife helped convince him that life was worth living, but it’s his own choice. Elizabeth sorrowfully states to John “Do what you will. But let none be your judge.

The Crucible - Conflict Analysis John Proctor Internal: John Proctor’s most eminent internal conflict is over the sin he has committed, adultery. Proctor cheated on his wife with Abigail Williams, and this makes Proctor feel incredibly guilty because in the town, he is “respected and even feared” (19). He tried very hard, and succeeded, with keeping this moral crime to himself. He still walked about Salem as if he was “an untroubled soul,” (21) however, avoiding the sin again would be a difficult task. Abigail flirts with him, in attempt to have him for one last night, and it’s obvious Proctor has an arduous time pushing her away.

Parris is a very self-centered man and is very embedded in his place in the community. He is a preacher for the church of Salem and his niece and daughter have been “bewitched” or so he thinks. Parris believes what he does is just and that no one should oppose him. This is also why he refuses to let news about his niece and daughter get out, he doesn’t want people to overthrow his position. Parris is a static character due to his nature of unchanging personality wise throughout the crucible, he is always self-centered.

Also in Act 4, he was highly conflicted over whether or not to confess to working with the devil to escape death. In the end, he decided lying was a sin he did not want to commit and chose to die a honest man rather than survive as a deceptive man. So in the end it is clear to see that John Proctor still is a good man despite his short-lived affair with Abigail. He was an honest, good-hearted man who wished for nothing more than to live a good life with his wife and children.

In a setting of Salem, Massachusetts 1692, religion is the direct reflection of one's social standing. Reputation is extremely important for the town, as it is your only way to get a fair hearing and respect from the people. The protectiveness of reputation is necessary in The Crucible to justify yourself when presented with fallacious arguments. In this play the importance of reputation is revealed though the uses of ethos, logos and pathos. The protectiveness of reputation is uncovered through various characters such as Reverend Hale, Reverend Parris, and John Proctor.

I have given you my soul; leave me my name!”(1272). These words by John Proctor exemplify his character by making, in my opinion, not a very wise decision. In the play The Crucible, John Proctor’s unwillingness can be seen as selfish because others hung before he confessed his affair with Abigail but he redeemed himself by undoing his confession and refusing to sell the court other names, which Arthur Miller used to convey a message about a crucible being put through a fire/trial and coming out in its purest form, through the character of John

He explains to the court that Abigail is involved with his crime, adultery. He admits to Danforth that he had an affair with Abigail during his marriage with Elizabeth. Although he confessed, he wasn’t straightforward when he did but sadly Danforth knew exactly what he meant. John yells, “It is a whore! – I have known her sir, I have known her” (110).