The Crucible explores the dangers of greed, egotism, and selfishness and their effects on Salem during the tragic witch trials of the late 17th century. The author, Arthur Miller, uses one of the main characters in the play, Reverend Parris, to embody all three of these traits. Throughout the play, Parris's actions and words demonstrate his self-centered behavior, how his traits drive his actions, and the motivations behind them, all of which ultimately contribute to the tragic events that unfold in Salem. Reverend Parris's personality trait of greed is a driving force behind his actions in the play. Parris places his reputation and position in the community above the well-being of his daughter, from the beginning of the play. Furthermore, he is willing to put the innocent lives of his fellow citizens at risk if it means that his reputation remains intact. Parris's greed is not only self-centered, but it also contributes to the hysteria that Salem goes under during the play. This behavior is demonstrated when Parris states, "The salary is sixty-six pound, Mr. Proctor! I …show more content…
Following the pattern seen in his other traits such as greed and selfishness, Parris once again prioritizes maintaining his authority and power over the well-being of Salem. Parris is deeply paranoid about his position in Salem and convinced that people are conspiring against him. This paranoia leads him to lash out at anyone he perceives as a threat to his power, such as John Proctor. Parris's ego blinds him to the reality of the situation, and he cannot see that his actions are causing harm to innocent people. His paranoia and ego are demonstrated when Parris exclaims, "It must come out—my enemies will bring it out. Let me know what you done there. Abigail, do you understand that I have many enemies?" in Act 1. Parris is more preoccupied with the potential damage to his reputation than the well-being of his daughter or