Reputation in the town of Salem in 1692 was a major role in daily lives. The society was Puritan that required for everyone to follow the Ten Commandments. These Commandments were taught through church led by Reverend Parris, who wanted all the gold and resources. Throughout The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, many characters gained their reputations through their actions, which become threatened. Certain people in this town lose control of consequences their choices brought upon them. During the play, John Proctor, a farmer, becomes a very well-known character that has a “blackened” reputation. John Proctor’s reputation has been tarnished because of his lechery and his loss of self-worth.
John Proctor begins to darken his reputation when
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After confessing his adultery, Proctor is thrown in the jails. Elizabeth is pregnant and wishes for Proctor to live to see his children grown. However, John believes that he has nothing, but a name that has been blacked in the Salem community. He signs his confession witchcraft and release, but refuses to hand it back over because he will have “nothing” left. His reasoning is “Because it is my name! Because I can not have another in my life? Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on my feet of them that hang!” (Miller 1333). Proctor tossed away Abigail, lost his faith in Elizabeth and has lost his love for God. Proctor believes there is nothing left for him. He chooses to hang because he has lost his will to live. John also choose to hang because he cannot bear to live without Elizabeth, but she does not want to love him even though he will help raise their children. Abigail, also, leaves John because he chooses Elizabeth. Proctor has a mindset that he does not have anything left for him, but a name that has lied and has been blackened. The importance of reputation in the society of Salem was majorly important because it led John Proctor to believe his adultery and self-worth blackened his life. His affair was his first step into his own grave because of his unfaithfulness to Elizabeth. Then, his lies pushed him over the edge to make them believe there was no