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The Character Of Reverend Parris In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

549 Words3 Pages

Power is something that everyone wants, but is also something that can be detrimental if given to the wrong people. In the play the Crucible, Parris is a Reverend who has a substantial influence over the town. However, when Witchcraft strikes, his true colors are revealed and he appears to care solely for his own self-interests rather than the safety of the people that he is supposed to watch over. Parris is a truly despicable character that continuously shows that power can be a corrupting force. Reverend Parris is an individual who is only concerned with his reputation and authority over Salem. At the beginning of the play, Parris “is discovered kneeling beside the bed” because “His daughter, Betty Parris, is lying on the bed inert,” (Miller, 3). While it may initially seem that Parris is in deep sorrow because of his daughter’s fate, it is soon revealed that he is only worried because the possibility of his home being the “center of some obscene practice” may “compromise [his] very character,” (11). The fact that Parris is more concerned with his character and public image than the well-being of his daughter demonstrates that he is an extremely selfish and ambitious man, which suggests that in this case, power …show more content…

When Parris is asked by Danforth if he saw the girls dancing naked in the woods, he replies that he “never found any of them naked” (105), even though he admitted himself that he saw “someone naked running through the trees” (11) in Act 1. Presumably he acts in this way to protect his public image, as admitting that he saw the girls dancing naked would make the town suspect that he is involved in witchcraft. In order to prevent this, he lies in court, despite knowing that doing so may lead to the imprisonment of innocent people. It is indubitable that Parris is a man obsessed with power and public image, and will go to any lengths to keep

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