ipl-logo

Reputation And Moral Rights In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

1292 Words6 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The crucible from a moral and ethical view

Reputation vs Moral Rights in The Crucible
Every day, human beings are faced with having to choose between keeping a stellar reputation, or pursuing what is morally right. This is apparent in Arthur Miller’s tragic play, The Crucible, when multiple characters have to make the choice of good reputation, or following good morals when they are dealing with witchcraft and The Salem Witch Trials. Through the use of well thought out characters, Arthur Miller is able to portray that when one’s actions are chosen by the intention of maintaining a perfect public image, instead of doing what is morally right, he/she ends up ruining that reputation in the end.
While reading the play, the very first character that the reader is introduced to is Reverend …show more content…

At the sound of a prayer, Betty awoke, screaming and covering her ears, making it clear to the townspeople in the room that the causes of Betty’s illness had something to do with witchcraft (Miller 21). Once the rest of the town had heard what had happened, accusations began towards people within Salem. Parris is quick to jump to the communities good side in order to maintain his reputation, and helps create the list of people to put on trial (Miller 49). Parris is then surprised when his good friends John and Elizabeth Proctor, who both have such great reputations, are sentenced to be hung. Parris then tries to convince Judge Danforth to postpone the hangings until they have more evidence by saying, “I would to God it were not so, excellency, but these people have great weight yet in the town” (Miller 118). Parris was not able to convince Danforth to postpone the hangings because Danforth was concerned that it would change his own reputation as a strong judge (Miller 119). If Parris had followed his morals earlier in the play instead of trying to maintain his perfect public image, he may have been able to save the lives of multiple innocent townspeople who did not confess due to their moral good. If he had done so, he may have maintained his image as a noble townsman instead of being the one who was incharge of hanging the

Show More
Related

Who Is Parris Guilty In The Crucible

754 Words | 4 Pages

In Act 3, Proctor provides evidence that Elizabeth, his wife, and Martha are innocent and this makes Parris very nervous. Parris is always reading over the shoulder of Danforth and whispering into his ear. At this evidence, Parris proclaims that, “This is a clear attack upon the court” (Miller 94). Every defense of someone who is being accused as a witch is seen as an attack by Parris and sways the opinion of Judge Danforth.

Read More

How Does Abigail Williams Show Reputation In The Crucible

675 Words | 3 Pages

The Crucible Essay John Lewis once said, “Live a life that is so honest, if someone said something bad about you, no one would believe it.” Building a certain reputation is a task most fail to acknowledge. Many elaborate through their actions the particular person they pursue to be known as, but many do the opposite. No matter if you’re unfamiliar to your attempts or fully aware, every one’s reputation is in their own hand’s to maneuver in the direction they strive to drive it in. In Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, reputation is amongst the most important priority, aside from religion.

Read More

Examples Of Hale's Transformation In The Crucible

962 Words | 4 Pages

Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, presents a theme that demonstrates how characters change throughout the storyline. The dramatic changes of the characters show how people in late 1600’s managed to get through the accusations of witchcraft and moreover how the accusers and or condemners were able to handle the chaotic event. Miller’s play helps one understand what the Salem Witch Trials did to people’s emotions and mentalities. People demanded one to be hung or burned if the person sinned unless they confessed, turned back around to God, and blamed others for their sin. In The Crucible, with Hale’s transformation Miller is emphasizing that humanity will always seek redemption, the truth will triumph the lies, and people will constantly try

Read More

Examples Of Integrity In The Crucible

1112 Words | 5 Pages

As Bob Marley once said, “The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.” Integrity is the quality of being honest and upholding one’s morals and principles. Living in a fast-paced and ever-changing society, human beings have come into contact with adversity and hardship all throughout history. Those who act with integrity during tough times have a major influence on those around them, and taking a stand and upholding ones’ beliefs and morals at great self sacrifice can inspire and encourage others to do the same. Arthur Miller’s 1953 play, The Crucible is a prime example of upholding integrity, and the characters within the play face difficult choices between doing

Read More

Taking Responsibility In Arthur Miller's The Crucible

750 Words | 3 Pages

Taking responsibility. Often times you will find yourself in an either difficult, or awkward situation where telling the truth is going to alter the conversation, and the person’s mood either for the better or worst, this leaves you thinking is being honest the right thing to do? This idea of being responsible for your actions is brought up countless times, both in real life and in fiction.

Read More

The Consequences Of Power In Arthur Miller's The Crucible

856 Words | 4 Pages

Power is a huge aspect of how people see an individual and how they are treated in Salem, Massachusetts, which is the setting of The Crucible. Factors such as gender, religion, and how much land one own’s are truly what separate the powerful from the powerless in this Puritan society. However, a surprising person in Betty Parris is able to maintain great power from simply lying “asleep.” Although she must defy the odds of power through gender and age, Betty Parris establishes herself as the most powerful person in Salem through her ability to influence the actions of people around her and cause the town to enter a state of hysteria.

Read More

Reputation In Arthur Miller's The Crucible

1093 Words | 5 Pages

Reputation is the beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something. Reputation can directly correlate with pride, which is a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one 's own achievements. Reputations are very important to the characters in The Crucible and if they want to preserve their reputation, through pride, they do whatever is necessary to keep it. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the characters John Proctor, Abigail Williams, and Judge Danforth all show dramatic actions to preserve their reputations, each of these characters either hurt themselves or others by being prideful and dishonest for the sake of their good name. There are several ways that Abigail Williams shows her objective of preserving her reputation in the book.

Read More

Effects Of Reputation In The Crucible

857 Words | 4 Pages

Reputation is something that can be left to linger around, haunting people 's lives for years. In the Crucible, Reverend Parris feels the effects of reputation first hand. Parris is a godly man who wants nothing more than to preserve his image. Parris’s motives are portrayed throughout the story when he catches his niece and daughter dancing the woods, a sign of witchcraft. Yet, after this he is more concerned with how he is being viewed instead of their well being.

Read More

Goodness And Nobility In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

1218 Words | 5 Pages

Goodness and nobility is determined by an individual’s morality and their willingness to follow a virtuous path in their life. It is also determined by the ability of an individual to acknowledge their shortcomings and become more self-aware. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, John Proctor is a good man as he showcases righteous morals and principles. This is shown, as he ends his affair with Abigail, protects his wife and his friends’ wives, and dies to preserve his integrity and honour. First, John Proctor shows his goodness, by refusing the physical advances of Abigail, who wishes to continue their love affair.

Read More

Reputation And Integrity In The Crucible

799 Words | 4 Pages

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?

Read More

The Crucible Authority Analysis

776 Words | 4 Pages

When Betty got sick in the beginning of the play he says to Proctor, The Putnams, and Giles “There is either obedience or the church will burn like Hell is burning! Parris to Proctor.” Parris is the third minister to go to through the church and this quote signifies his need for power to boost his own personal feelings. He is saying if they do not follow what he wants to do there will be a major price to pay. It shows how Parris just expects obedience from everyone since he is a minister.

Read More

The Importance Of Reputation In The Crucible

551 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More

The Theme Of Reputation In The Crucible

1370 Words | 6 Pages

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.

Read More

The Crucible Reputation Analysis

263 Words | 2 Pages

Throughout Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, the characters are portrayed to be good citizens and how important it is for them to keep a good name. A good reputation is hard to achieve but even harder to maintain. Judge Danforth wants to be known as a righteous man, as well as john proctor, who strongly fights for his beliefs and others. Abigail is known for believing nothing was beyond her grasp. Reverend Paris is puritan minister, who lives by bible and it teaching.

Read More

Abuse Of Power In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

1101 Words | 5 Pages

Keira Hine Mr. Christensen English III 01 May 2023 Throughout history, humans have always used the supernatural to explain things they could not understand: The seasons were explained by the corruption of Persephone, famine and plague by sin, and misfortune and success with karma. Just as these ideas were used to make sense of the world, they were also used to fearmonger groups of people and give power to a select few. These few elites will often do anything to maintain their power including destroying those in their communities. Arthur Miller uses The Crucible as an instrument to expose humanity's tendency to prosecute those who threaten the ones in powers narrative.

Read More

More about Reputation And Moral Rights In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

Related Topics

Open Document