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Reputation Quotes In The Crucible

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In the background of the Salem witch trials, Arthur Miller's timeless masterpiece "The Crucible" explores the themes of hysteria, power, and truth. The play, which is a metaphor for the McCarthy era of the 1950s and is set in the puritanical culture of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, was written by Arthur Miller. "The Crucible" investigates how fear may proliferate like wildfire and result in devastating conduct, especially toward helpless people. Miller makes a statement in his writing on the perils of groupthink and the necessity of maintaining personal integrity in the face of peer pressure. The characters are captivated by their fear of the devil and the presence of evil throughout the entire play. "The devil is precise; the marks of his …show more content…

He tries to bury any evidence that could disprove the accusations of witchcraft, showing that he values his standing in society more than the truth. He begs his peers, "I pray you, leap not to witchcraft. I know that you-least of all, Thomas-would ever wish so disastrous a charge laid upon me. We cannot leap to witchcraft. They will howl me out of Salem for such corruption in my house" (Miller 14). Reverend Parris makes clear how important his reputation in the community is to him and how afraid he is of jeopardizing it. He makes choices that ultimately contribute to the tragic events of the play because he is fixated on upholding his reputation at the expense of his parishioners and the community as a whole. This serves as a reminder that reputation may affect others and motivate both positive and negative …show more content…

Proctor, who won't admit to being a witch and forsaking his friends and principles, is willing to take any danger necessary to reveal the truth and stand up for the weak. Proctor grapples with the essence of justice and truth throughout the play and becomes caught up in the witch hunts before realizing how crucial it is to stand up for what is right no matter the cost to one's safety. Miller's assertion "I cannot mount the gibbet like a saint. It is a fraud. I am not that man. My honesty is broken, Elizabeth; I am no good man. Nothing's spoiled by giving them this lie that was not rotten long before" (Miller 136). demonstrates how much value Proctor places on his reputation and ethics. The tragic tale of John Proctor is a moving reminder of the value of morality, particularly in the face of extreme

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