The Crucible Parris Character Analysis

Danforth is cold and efficient in his calculated offering of a public confession to Proctor, but Parris offers the audience more insight into his feelings. Take for instance the scene direction that describes Parris screaming at Proctor to sign the paper “hysterically, as though the tearing paper were his life” (75). He knows that he is losing his abusive power over the people, and he is terrified of what the mob’s mentality might be once they were conned by Parris and Danforth into believing a lie. Even the actions of Danforth in putting Proctor into a situation where he has to lose his honor and live or die is an ample evidence of their abuse of

When he won't sign the court document of his confession, he tries to convince the men of the court to not let the paper get out, which means that the reputation of his family would be tarnished with the confession of wizardry. Also, when Reverend Hale first shows up at his house, his excuse for not going to church is because he doesn't like Parris, and he hides the fact that he cheated on Elizabeth,and he maybe was feeling guilty. Throughout Miller’s The Crucible, many Salemites are accused of being witches and wizards, which causes the accused to become defensive. Parris becomes defensive of his ministyr and its reputaion. Abigail Williams, the catalyst for the trials lies to protect her “white name” in Salem.

Throughout his life, Mallam Sile had a childhood illness that caused perpetual impaired vision however he refused to seek medical aid. The reason for this is that Mallam Sile believes that “God is the one who brings illness, and he is the only true healer” (95). It is apparent he is a firm believer of his faith due to the fact that he would wear his “white embroidered Mecca hat-- worn by highly devout Muslims as a reflection of their submission to Allah” (95). Later on in the story, Abeeba, Mallam Sile’s wife, fights for the debt Samadu never paid. The result of that fight causes the rest of the village to show more respect towards the tea-seller.

After witnessing all the prosecutions and how all the reputations were being ruined at the time, Miller himself began believing that this misfortune was actually a reality. In his time, Miller wrote The Crucible as an allegory to portray the Communist trials and to reveal to the people how this madness was taking over their fundamental society. Throughout Miller 's article “Were You Now or Were You Ever?” he uses a competent tone, parallelism and repetition reflecting paranoia, and the use of an

Rudolph is pput on trial, a show trial if you will. Show trials were a judiaciary trials held in public places to influence the public opinion rather than ensuring justice. This trial was known as the Sanksy trial. In the novel Rudoplph was placed on trial because he was accused of being spy, traitor and a sabetour. He was tortured and forced to confess into a crime he did not commit.

Likewise, Tituba, who is Parris' black slave, blames Sarah Good and Goody Osbourne for witchcraft after Hale cross examines her and constrains her to let him know who she has seen undermining the implementation of the Devil influence. : "...Tituba, you are chosen to help cleanse our village. So speak utterly, Tituba, turn your back on him [the Devil] and face God..."(44). Hale tries to put pressure on Tituba to give him names, so that he could initiate hysteria accusations in Salem. (he had additionally debilitated to whip her to death).

Thomas Putnam accuses the citizens of Salem for putting spells on his daughter, Ruth Putnam. He does this to people he wants revenge on, once they are accused, their land goes up for sale and he buys their land. “ Thomas

Trevor being someone who once pertained to an upper class gives the wooden struts holding up the house true significance as it's illustrating him being on the verge of not letting go of his past or just moving on from it. Trevor’s attempts to change the separations society has created for himself and others further displays the confliction he has with himself as he struggles to deal with his past and current life. In addition to this, with the look of his “grey and disturbed” eyes, Trevor plans to organize a way in which he and the gang can “destroy” the house (44). Trevor wanting to demolish the house with a look of grey and disturbed eyes demonstrates how he hasn't really given up on his old life but is rather stuck in between. Also, the idea of destroying the house that represents the wealthy trying to hang onto that upper hierarchy reveals Trevor’s desire to completely get rid of his past life and divisions within society.

Even though he is a sinner, Carton is not a malevolent person. He refuses to pursue his dream of a better life because he knows that it would bring nothing but disgrace upon Lucy, the woman whom he loves. He often visits the Manette household, always “moody and morose” while he is there (Dickens 148). He can a pleasant person when he wishes to be, but the cloud of caring for nothing, which overshadowed him with a fatal darkness, was very rarely pierced by the light within him” (Dickens 148). This quote makes it clear to the reader that Sydney does have some light inside of him, but it is hidden beneath a facade of carelessness.

The function of jealousy and how it consumes other characters develops the majority of the plot within the play. It primarily serves as a way to incite the character 's psyche and lead them to being reckless and negligent. Specifically, the way jealousy affects the minds of Othello and Roderigo through the manipulation tactics of Iago. Specifically, during many of Othello and Iago’s conversations. Iago slowly makes Othello believe in false proof of Desdemona 's affair, thus Othello begins to psychologically change by gradually turning to murder through justification of Iago’s statements on Desdemona: “One is too poor, too weak for my revenge.

She wanted to learn everything he had to say whether it was about God or gardening and wanted to follow in his footsteps. However, Nathan Price did not care about his daughters and only focused on his mission to preach the Word of God. This showcased the type of father Nathan Price was: a stubborn, rude man who was unavailable emotionally, physically, and mentally. So, a father figure with this type of demeanor was not a lasting strong force in her life.

Both situations spiraled out of control because of ignorance and the use mob mentality. A person who sympathized with Communists was persecuted, just as if someone tried to defend the accused witches of Salem. Parallel to the Salem Witch Trials, the McCarthy Trials accused hundreds of innocent people of being Communists without any proof. Like Salem, if the accused confessed to communism, they would be blacklisted from their community, but not jailed. Sir William Phips was the Governor of Massachusetts at the time of the salem Witch Trials, and he refused to stop the trials until one of the accusers targeted his wife.

In Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, a man named Reverend Parris is a representation of all that is twisted and greedy in what is a seemingly positive religion. Parris is a foretold man of God, but realistically illustrates how a man in power wants to progress in his own selfish ideals. This trait is greatly exemplified in his personality, especially in the fact that he is evidenced as one who cannot be trusted, and seeks constant approval of others near him. Parris does change over time, however, from wishing for the advancement of his owns wants, to hoping for the downfall of those against him. Much of how Parris is described is seen in his placement with respect to other characters; he is given such a moral job to highlight to sharp contrast of his presumed actions against his existing ones.

In The Crucible, logic and reason play an active role as the counterpart to the fear that fills the Puritan society and the characters themselves. The characters Proctor and Hale represent the voice of reason against the voices of fear. Though they are outnumbered by those who give in to the paranoia, they stick with what they believe is right despite knowing they will become a pariah. On the other hand, Danforth and Parris represent the driving forces of fear and paranoia that plagues the minds of the people in their society. Society’s reaction to their driving force is to comply because to do otherwise is to be an outcast, and to be an outcast could result in one’s death.

According to founding father Thomas Paine, “Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us” (“Reputation”). Whether individuals readily admit it or not, everyone cares about what others think or say about them to some extent. Though people are constantly told to not take to heart what others believe about them, they still do. In Arthur Miller’s drama, The Crucible, Salem’s society is collapsing and innocent characters are taking action because their reputation is at stake due to the false accusations of involving themselves in witchcraft. These characters live in such fear that if their pride is tarnished they will never recover from it.