The Theme Of Reputation In The Crucible

The Preservation of One’s Reputation Warren Buffett once said, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” A reputation is one of the most important things a person has. It measures one’s worth, honor, and integrity - something we all strive for. Our countless endeavors, whether wrong or right, tend to just how much someone values their self-worth. We humans are naturally built to muse upon how others think of us, and this is the basis for our self-conscious pursuit for our reputation and identity. No where is this more apparent in The Crucible. The play, The Crucible, is a homage to many themes, as it dives into the story of The Salem Witch Trial. Preserving one’s reputation is a theme exemplified heavily in the book, as almost every character struggles with their identity, which in turn, affects their decisions. Two characters that orchestrate this theme are Reverend Parris and John Proctor. Both Proctor and Parris are especially concerned with their

Their vindication affect the decisions they make, which results in the outcome of their character. John Proctor is a man that wishes to overcome his past mistakes, and fears that it will tarnish the reputation of himself, and adulterate all sense of nobility within him. Reverend Parris is a man who wants to preserve his reputation as a high official of the village, but is met with fear the he will be labeled corrupt, as everyone around him is being labeled that. Arthur Miller is particularly fixated on showing how upholding one’s reputation, whether selfishlessly or magnanimously, tends to human nature. We humans are naturally built to preserve our reputation, especially met with outside judgement, and this is the fundamental basis for one’s reputation and