The Role Of Reputation In The Crucible

Rumor Has It In the United States, sports stars are constantly being judged for what they do. Some people are known for having a bad reputation such as Tom Brady for the allegations of him cheating. The same can be said about the characters in The Crucible by Arthur Miller. The Crucible was based on the Salem Witch Trials where there was suspicion of witches in Salem which caused many people to be hanged. Many characters’ reputations were questioned throughout the book. The plot is driven by Abigail Williams wanting to be with John Proctor since he cheated on his wife with her. Arthur Miller is trying to say that valuing reputation too much puts a person's future in question. During Act I of The Crucible, people’s reputations were being

At the court house, John Proctor was trying to prove his wife’s innocence to the court and admitted to cheating on her with Abigail. Proctor said, “I have made a bell of my honor! I have rung the doom of my good name-you will believe me, Mr. Danforth! My wife is innocent, except she knew a whore when she saw one!” (Miller 189). Proctor admitted to his crime of lechery to show how Abigail and the other girls have been lying to the court. He would rather ruin his reputation than let his wife die. This put his future in danger because admitted to a crime but also made Goody Proctor’s future a little bit safer. The court wanted to see if Proctor was telling the truth about him cheating so they brought in Goody Proctor to find out if he was lying. As they were interrogating Goody Proctor, Judge Danforth said, “Look at me! To your own knowledge, has John Proctor ever committed the crime of lechery? Answer my question! Is your husband a lecher!” Goody Proctor replied, “No, sir.” (Miller 190). Her lying to them caused the court not to believe Proctor and they still believed that all the things that the girls have said were true when they were not. This lie caused both her and Proctor’s future’s to not look very good unless they confess to being witches. At the end of the act, Arthur Miller hinted at the fate of some

On the day of John Proctor’s hanging, Parris wanted the court to postpone it. He told Danforth, “Tonight, when I open my door to leave my house – a dagger clattered to the ground. You cannot hang this sort. There is danger for me. I dare not step outside at night.” (Miller 200). Parris’ reputation in the village was going downhill due to the hangings of many people and he thought that the hanging of Proctor would start a riot. The threat of him being killed because of the talk around the village puts his future position in the town in question. Later on, Proctor admits to working with the Devil to save his own life. This is written out on paper and signed by him. The paper was supposed to be posted to the church door but Proctor won’t allow it. He yelled, “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (Miller 207). Proctor wanted to live but he didn’t want his reputation in the town to be ruined even more than it already was. A person can only have one reputation in life and Proctor wanted his to be good. Not allowing the paper to be posted to the door solidified Proctor’s future. Arthur Miller is trying to say that a person’s future is put in question because people value reputation too much. Through the