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Preservation Of Reputation In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

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Many claims are located in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. From themes of honor to themes of power. And many characters show these themes through the actions they perform and the words they spoke. But there is only one dominant theme, or claim, in The Crucible. Both Parris and Proctor convey the dominant claim that preservation of reputation is extremely important. Parris shows us that he wants to preserve his reputation throughout the play. When his daughter is found in the forest partaking in potential witchcraft he starts worrying, not about his daughter but about his reputation. When asking for a doctor, it is suggested that there are stranger causes witch Parris denys swiftly saying, “No-no. There be no unnatural cause here”(0000). Parris tries to hide any evidence that should show his daughter to be a witch. He does not want anyone to find out on the fact that he is the minister of the town and would then also be marked as a bad parent. Later in the play does Parris blatantly state that he wants to keep his reputation clean. Parris …show more content…

In act I, Proctor has an affair with Abigail. Proctor insists that it didn't happen saying, “We never touched, Abby”(0000). He wants to keep the affair a secret so that his reputation as a respected well known married man stays clean. He does not care for the effects the affair had on Abigail but only for his reputation. Towards the end of the play, Proctor is accused of witchcraft and even goes to confess to save his wife. When he confesses verbally, Danforth presses Procter to sign the written confession to be nailed to the church doors. Procter replies, “You have all witnessed it, what more is needed”(0000)? Procter eventually signs the confession but tears it up and throws it away. Rather than letting his name be placed on the church doors and ruined, he condemns himself to death by tearing up the paper. Proctor preserves his name but ends up dead doing

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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-

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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

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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.

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She use to serve me in my house, sir. A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything, I know it now. I beg you, sir, I beg you see her what she is. My wife, my dear wife, took this girl soon after, sir, and put her out on the high road” (Miller 110) Proctor confesses of lechery. He also explains why Abigail accuses Elizabeth of witchcraft so at the end of the day Proctor and Abigail can be together.

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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

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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

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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Our countless endeavors, whether wrong or right, tend to just how much someone values their self-worth. We humans are naturally built to muse upon how others think of us, and this is the basis for our self-conscious pursuit for our reputation and identity. No where is this more apparent in The Crucible. The play, The Crucible, is a homage to many themes, as it dives into the story of The Salem Witch Trial. Preserving one’s reputation is a theme exemplified heavily in the book, as almost every character struggles with their identity, which in turn, affects their decisions.

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He understood that the spectacle would raise suspicion of witchcraft among the people of Salem, and he would be implicated. He eventually took advantage of the situation to protect his position and punish a faction in the community that he suspected actively opposed him. Parris seemed glad when the girls started mentioning people they saw with the devil because it distanced his family from the situation. The focus was redirected at those who were mentioned by the girls. Parris can be blamed for setting a tone for his daughter and the people that will make them hysterical; As well as trying to point the finger at other people, to make sure no one blames him for what is going on.

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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.

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(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.

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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.

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