Reverend Parris's Motivation In The Crucible

Reverend Parris was a religious leader in Salem during the witch trials. The Reverend’s motivation for supporting the trials were his hunger for power and position in the community, his determination to protect his image and reputation, and to protect his own self from persecution. Overall, Parris was a man of greed. This greed is his motivation for most of his actions. Hunger for power and position in the community was a huge motivation for the reverend. In act one Parris is complaining about not having enough fire wood. He is told by Reverend Hale that he receives sixty-six pounds and six of which goes towards firewood. This issue along with others was his way of asserting his greed through authority. Another example is wanting the deed to the parsonage this was a sign of him over asserting his powers because out of all the reverend he was the first to want the deed to the parsonage. Though this may be a minor thing to ask for it represents how he wasn’t happy with what he already had. Another example of this could be when Reverend Hale tells Parris to buy his own wood an Parris said that sixty pounds a year feels like he’s in poverty, however to most villagers this

At this point this shows the selfish side of Parris, After finding out that there was the possibility of witchcraft Parris wanted everyone to keep it a secret so the outbreak wouldn’t spread throughout the village an reckon his name. For someone that has the position of being a Reverend and having a child or family member convicted of witchcraft was a big deal that could result in mass rumors and even the loss of the position. For someone who was conceided an valued there name and position this was a big deal. This was exactly the person Parris was he only cared about his name and his position and not as much about his family and especially his