Preservation Of Reputation In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

In Act One of The Crucible, Reverend Parris was the most responsible for the uncontrollable situation about witchcraft in Salem. In The Crucible, Parris says “I cannot blink what I saw, Abigail, for my enemies will not blink it”(1093). Parris was making it clear to his niece that he wasn’t going to keep quiet on the opposed witchcraft he witnessed them do in the forest. When Abigail suggested to Parris that he should go to the people of the village and deny witchcraft himself, he refused. Parris didn’t want to tell people that he saw his daughter and niece dancing ungodly in the forest because that would also ruin his reputation.

Prior to The Crucible , Rev. Parris was a heinous man- so much so, that his past begins to convey his future actions. In the first scene, Rev. Parris is weeping and praying over his daughter's bed, only to be concerned about his reputation-

He does not undergo any significant change in his character and the qualities he presents. For Parris, the truth of the accusations of witchcraft in Salem is not an issue. Unlike Hale, Parris never doubts the virtue of his actions. He only begins to doubt the effects of his actions and to wonder about the consequences of his role in the trials as they might impact his personal safety and position. Parris becomes more insecure and paranoid as the play wares on.

Once again Proctor goes above and beyond to prove his wife is innocent, despite his good name being stepped on. Proctor: “ I have made a bell of my honor. I have rung the doom of my good name- you will believe me, Mr. Danforth!” (Miller 111) By Proctor confessing his sins, his reputation goes down the drain.

Parris is anxious about his reputation because of the church and village. If he does not have a good reputation then the village will not believe him and stop coming to the church since he is a big part of it. Parris says, “I want a mark of confidence, is all! I am your third preacher in seven years. I do not wish to be put out like the cat whenever some majority feels.”

Parris’s actions showcase his internal conflicts. He’s wary of change, we see that when he feverently claims that nothing has anything to do with witchcraft. He is a completely, utterly broken man by the end of the book-as seen in “He covers his face and sobs,” “He presses his finger against his eyes to keep back tears,” and “He is pleading,” (Miller 117). From this we can infer that the constant changes of his inner dialogue are causing internal conflict, and that they are tearing him

Parris is an odd character, a minister who is the slimiest snake of them all, because he lives simply to satisfy his needs. The play makes him partake in nothing but evil, even in the end when he wishes to, “Postpone these hangin’s for a time” (Miller 127). He had wanted the hangings for a time, but he then realized hanging respectable people like Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor will cause the town to revolt. He takes many evil actions later on as well. No one’s evil intentions are repeated in the play as much as Parris, because it the play here is proving the theme that only the informed can be righteously judged, and Parris is a minister as well as witness of whatever happened in the forest, completely contrasting with the foolish but seemingly innocent

After Proctor gives his confession and refutes it, he “tears the paper and crumples it” (144). Because of this action, Proctor’s fails to live up to his once good name in the eyes of the community, and will forever be in remembrance for being a witch because of the path of action he has taken. John Proctor’s actions conveys to the reader the necessity of a virtuous character. Before denying his confession, Proctor pleads with the court that, "[he] [has] given [them his] soul; leave [him his] name"(144)(IV.281-294). In Salem, there was no such thing of private immorality, so when John's testimony is threatened, he beseech that the court not confess his transgressions publicly because reputation is of importance in this town.

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

(Act I. line 158-167). In the begging of the book Parris stand before his daughter’s bed and talk to Abigail what happened in the wood. At first we will think he is a good father who worried about his daughter, but then throughout his sentences we know he is just care about his position as a minister. “You people seem not to comprehend that a minister is the Lord’s man in the Parish; a minister is not to be so lightly crossed and contradicted—”(Act I. line 823-827). Parris's repeated demonstrations of exceedingly selfish behavior don't help him.

Parris is also a very selfish man who is only worried about staying minister and trying to make himself have a luxurious life style. He show how selfish he is by saying” The cause is yet unknown. I have had enough contention since i came; I want no more. ”(Miller, 174). He show himself as being selfish in this line because he doesn't worry about there being a witch in salem, he is only worried about keeping his job as minister.

Parris cares more about his reputation than the truth. This one decision of not telling the truth would keep innocent people from getting hanged. He is given the choice to do the right thing but is too deep into his egocentric thinking to realize the importance of telling the truth. The story would have a completely different outcome had Parris told what he actually saw. The entire town who had feared witchcraft has been giving power to the people who committed witchcraft themselves.

By looking at The Crucible by Arthur Miller one can see that the characterization of John Proctor reveals the theme of reputation and integrity, which is important because refusing to tell lies to protect his reputation and stop delirium from spreading throughout Salem. John Proctor states that the woman of Salem who have been locked up for witchcraft:”Excellency, does it not strike upon you that so many of these women have lived so long with such upright reputation”(3.1.305-309). Proctor represents reputation because he would rather die than have his reputation downed to a victimizer. Protecting his reputation motivates John Proctor to deny that witchcraft exists in the village. All he hears is crying out of screams and wailing which is a cause of the Devil 's work: “What 's she doing?

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.

In Arthur Miller’s dramatic play The Crucible, John Proctor, the protagonist, symbolized truth and justice by displaying honor and pride in his name. The change in balance between those two attributes acted as a catalyst in defining moments of the play. In the beginning, Proctor equally reflected both pride and honor in separate events. However, when forced to make a decision, he chose honor over pride. Ultimately, both his honor and pride pushed him to commit the ultimate sacrifice.