Preservation Of Reputation In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

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

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