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John Proctor's Reputation In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

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In the Crucible by Arthur Miller, reputation is significant because the characters are willing to go to extremes to protect their good name. Having a good reputation is the only way that others respect you and it is the only way to possibly receive a fair trial. John Proctor is an honest man who is always willing to do the honorable thing. Reverend Parris is known as the religious figure in Salem that is more concerned with maintaining his reputation rather than caring about others around him. Judge Danforth is a stubborn man who believes that he is guided by God so no one is unfairly punished. When these characters are faced with challenging dilemmas they choose to either sacrifice their lives or avoid doing the right thing in order to save …show more content…

He is a hardworking, law abiding citizen who is one of the few people in Salem who tried to find the truth behind the witch trials. Proctor also is the only one who could prove that Abigail is guilty but it would mean tarnishing his good name and losing the respect that others have for him. He eventually confesses to his affair with Abigail which is then denied by his wife (who is unaware that he confessed to adultery and lies to protect him). This leads to Proctor being accused of witchcraft. But, in the end he ultimately refuses to sign a confession that would save his life. He chooses instead to save his reputation because his good name is all he has left: “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! (...) How may I live without my name?” …show more content…

He is very prideful and likes to believe he is always fair which is evident when others who try to disprove his judgements are often arrested. Towards the end of the play he begins to realize that he is sending innocent people to their death when he says, “I will not (...) pardon [these when] twelve are already executed [for the same crime].” (129). But by then it was too late, because if he admitted that he made a mistake he would be sacrificing his reputation as a steadfast judge. Danforth is even willing to accept Proctor’s false confession in a desperate act to save his collapsing reputation when he says, “Come then, sign your testimony.” (141). When faced with the dilemma of life or death, Danforth chooses to save his reputation and let innocent people

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