Examples Of Imagery In The Crucible

Protecting Image
We pride ourselves on our accomplishments, the accomplishments of those with whom we associate ourselves, and from our belongings that are admired by others. The expectation to succeed is set from childhood, with the pressure increasing as we grow. As we achieve, the more protective we become of our image. The expectation today is to have a perfect appearance and reputation to go along with it. Allowing something to damage your appearance is frowned upon, so most people try their hardest to protect their own. This is shown in The Crucible, a play set in Salem, 1692. In the play, the townspeople value their reputation and are constantly worried about it being tarnished. They tirelessly try to protect their names from the witchcraft

When his daughter, Betty, falls into a coma, whispers involving witchcraft start to circulate through the small town. These rumors are toxic to Parris who becomes increasingly concerned with his image. As Betty is lying unconscious on a bed, Parris says, “It must come out - my enemies will bring it out.” He is referring to the claims of witchcraft that Betty and Abigail had been performing. Parris is not concerned with his daughter’s health, he is solely concerned with his name being associated with the practice of witchcraft. Later in the play, Parris says, “Abigail, I have fought here three long years to bend these stiff-necked people to me, and now, just now when some good respect is rising for me in the Parish, you compromise my very character.” As Abigail denies that she and Betty took part in witchcraft, Parris argues that they did practice witchcraft. Parris explains that after years of trying, he has finally won the affection of the people of Salem and gained power in the small town. He fears that due to the talk of witchcraft involving Betty’s coma, combined with Abigail’s actions, his reputation will be compromised and he will suffer. Paris is concerned with protecting his reputation in order to preserve his power and the respect of the people in

In the beginning Proctor had a chance to stop the accusations of witchcraft, but decides against it in order to preserve his image. He does not want to testify against Abigail because doing this would cause his secret affair with her to become a public topic, therefore tarnishing his reputation. However, Proctor sacrifices his reputation by admitting to his affair in Act III by saying, “God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat.” Although Proctor broke the rules of theocratic Salem, he proved his integrity by being honest which in some ways only adds respect to his reputation. At the end of the play, Proctor is given a choice to either lie, and damage the reputations of others in order to protect his own, or to tell the truth, and be killed. He decides to preserve his image by telling the truth and as a result, dies honorably. Proctor says to Danforth in Act IV, “I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” Proctor’s drive to preserve his reputation is shown by his heroic act at the end of the play. He would rather die honestly than to live through a lie. Proctor made the decision to die in service of his reputation and to keep it untarnished rather than to live with it