Reverend Parri's Reputation In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller the author emphasizes the theme of how ones actions can be motivated by fear, but also by underlying worries about the loss of their good reputation effecting their lives negatively. One way Arthur Miller portrays the theme of respecting ones reputation is through the character Reverend Parris. Parris is the minister of Salem Massachusetts; therefore, his reputation is very important amongst the people. One night Parris sees the teenage girls of Salem dancing in the woods or "the devils playground" preforming what he believes to be witchcraft, led by a slave from Barbados Tituba. His daughter Betty and niece Abigail are there and he is frightened that what they have done will tarnish his reputation. He questions Abigail

John has committed the sin of adultery with Abigail Williams, the reverends niece. The event that lead to the uproar in Salem. At the end of the play John is accused of working with the devil and he either has the choice to confess and live or be hanged. John is about to be set free, all that was left was to sign the paper saying he confessed to Mr. Danforth, the judge of Salem. This letter would be plastered on the court door so the whole town could see. John could not go through with it. He would not give them his name. John pleads "Because it is my name! Because I cannot 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 have given you my soul; leave me my name!" This quotation is a perfect representation of how he is longing to keep the goodness of his name. He would rather take death then for these liars to take his name. This is extremely significant because John Proctor chose to keep his dignity by losing his life. The price he would have to pay in his reputation to save his life was ultimately too high foe him and not worth it for a