Reputation has an immense influence on Puritans' social interactions in the town. The Crucible written by Arthur MIller, represents that one's in the Puritans’ society believes that God created a plan for everyone and it shows that having patience is receiving a valuable serendipity. In doing so, reputation plays a remarkable role in shaping the actions and behavior of the characters. Throughout the play, the one’s that are accountable for keeping this act and not falling through would be Parris, Danforth and Proctor; these people have fought to keep their name, role and importance in the town. Reverend Parris the minister of the Salam’s church; he doesn’t want to let the town folks down along with the position he holds in the community. One …show more content…
He arrives in Salem to oversee the trials of the accused witches and proceeds to have to understand and have a clear ability to judge clearly. Throughout everything going on in the play he oversees it and still considers himself as the best judge. Towards the end of the play, Salem starts to fall apart, from Abigail running away, to having stolen Parris’s life savings and Danforth still cannot agree that the trials were a lie to endanger others. He believes that he didn’t make any wrong accusations, they were all for the right reason in his thoughts. Soon after that, when John refuses to give permission to Danforth about posting the confession in town. Danforth states, “Hang them high over the town! Who weeps for these, weeps for corruption!” (Miller 144). He says this because he wants to condemn John to death for taking back his false confession. Danforth’s impotence to understand that the witch trials were a false accusation and that he has taken part in the murder of dozens of innocent people is horrifying. Danforth believes in following the proposition despite all evidence that his belief is …show more content…
The story starts off with the affair between Abigail and John, which leads to suspicions towards his current wife Elizabeth Proctor. Arthur Miller states, “He is a sinner, a sinner not only against the moral fashion of the time, but of his own version of his decent conduct” (Miller 20 ). This quote is stated in the book because it demonstrates the fact that Proctor didn’t know all the commandments, nor followed them. When the trails begin, all John can think about is if he confesses to adultery, then it would stop Abigail in the town. In doing so, an admission would ruin his good name and a proud man who views highly on his reputation, just to lose it in trial. Durning Mary Warren’s testimony, he makes an attempt to accuse Abigail as a fraud without revealing the affair. Then eventually confesses to the actions he took, but doesn’t realize that it’s too late. Proctor’s confession went so far that it led to his arrest and the confession of being a witch. Soon after that, Proctor tries to justify the final denouncement of the witch trials. Proctor was given the opportunity to make a public announcement of his guilt, regrets of feeling capitulate when appealing his ceremonial confession. His vast emotions of pride and fear made him withhold telling the court about adultery. Towards the end of the play he focuses on his personal empathy, rather than the public's standards. Proctor still views his name as a piece of treasure.