One central motif in the play, The Crucible, is the importance of a good name. The meaning of a good name, however, is conveyed in a diverse variance through each character within the play. John Proctor, Judge Danforth, Reverend Parris, Elizabeth Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, and Reverend hale, each seeking a different name. Reverend Parris seeks a good name for the purpose of pride and reputation. Reverend Parris is very greedy and repeatedly demonstrates selfish behavior throughout the play. Parris thinks only to protect his good reputation and keep his position as minister in the town of Salem. In the beginning of the play, Parris’s daughter, Betty, was sick in her bed; instead of being worried about his daughter, Parris’s main concern was what people would think about the chance of witchcraft in his house. At the end of the play, Parris expresses his selfishness for his name again when he asks Danforth to postpone the hangings; for the night before he found a dagger in his front door and is afraid that if honorable citizens like John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse are hanged, the town citizens will rebel against him. Reverend Parris works for a good name because of prideful and selfish reasons. Judge Danforth values his control and power in the court. He believes that his power and decisions are guided by God. Danforth is confident in what he is doing; he sees no wrong in his actions of hanging people. He feels the need to get rid of the “witches” in Salem and likes expressing