Examples Of Vanity In The Crucible

A famous artist once said, “Vanity can overtake wisdom. It usually overtakes common sense.” Personal gain often overshadows the sagacious decision that a person should take. Although many people do not realize, they often tend to value other people’s perception of them rather than what is considered sensible in a situation. Most people’s behavior is often derived from their concern of pride and social status.
In the novel, The Crucible, personal pride is a reoccurring motive of a person’s decision. Reverend Parris, who is the minister of the Puritan village of Salem, is shown as a man who values his reputation and is very prideful. In Act One, when his daughter has fallen ill under witchcraft, he is more concerned about what people will think of him instead of the goodwill of his daughter. He states, “… Just now when some good respect is rising for me in the parish, you compromise my very character.” His vanity overshadowed his love and concern for his daughter that all fathers

During Act Four of the play, John Proctor is told to confess his sins and his allegiance to the Devil. Reluctantly, John Proctor confesses. Although, after this he is told to sign his name to represent that he indeed conveyed his submission to the Devil. This signature means everything to him. He claims, “…I have confessed myself! Is there no good penitence but it be public? … Because it is my name! How may I live without my name?” John Proctor is so terrified that this signature will blacken his name in the village, that he will go to death for it. His pride means so much to him that he would leave his children, unborn child, and his wife in order to protect his pride and from having his reputation