How Did Reverend Parris Change In The Crucible

824 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Character analysis of reverend parris in the crucible

Throughout the entirety of the play, Reverend Parris was a perplexed man. As the play moved along, he grew more introverted and we see his paranoia grow larger. He was also blaming every other person for every little mishap in Salem for his own benefit. Reverend Parris was a man of many different traits and as the play moves along these ever changing qualities are easily seen. From Act 1 to Act 4 in The Crucible, Reverend Parris, a timid pastor, transforms from a confused man trying to conceal his identity to the towns “gossiper)” to have his name remain unimpeachable. For instance, at the beginning of the play he was blaming Abigail for Betty being “asleep” and not waking up (Miller 1129). This was because he wanted to keep his own name in tact and not be torn apart by rumors or false accusations dealing with witchcraft. Especially because his niece was Abigail and his daughter was Betty (Miller 1129-1161). This showed me that this was the biggest change perhaps in his character. Reverend Parris was not liked in Salem from certain people because of this quality. “Out of my sight! She is gone. Out of my—Oh, my God! God help me! Betty. Child. Dear child. Will you wake, will you open up your eyes! Betty, little one . . .” (Miller …show more content…

But in the beginning, his selfishness and impoverished attitude towards the trials and the people were very different from how his attitude was in Act 4. The hysteria was growing and we see Reverend Parris as a different human being. “These people should be summoned. For questioning.” (Miller 1194). Here he acts concerned for the judges so he could feel better about himself. This is a big contrast between the Reverend Parris we knew in Act 1. He has now changed into a man of afflicting attitudes and trying to turn innocent people in. “The Devil lives on such confidences! Without confidences there could be no conspiracy, Your Honor!” (Miller 1196) Parris’ character is now a totally different

Show More
Related

  • How Does Reverend Hale Change In The Crucible

    518 Words  | 2 Pages

    We have all heard the tales and seen the movies of evil witches cooking little kids up for supper. For the people of salem in 1692-1693 this was a reality. In the matter of less than a year more than two hundred people were accused of witchcraft and more than twenty were executed. In these historic events author Arthur Miller wrote a play about the people and events in this play there is a man, Reverend Hale is well versed in the study of witchcraft and has come to try and save the girls that have been gripped by the Devil. Miller has Hale change very much throughout the event of this play. In the beginning he believes that the Devil is at work in Salem, how ever near the climactic ending of this play he realises that this witch talk has gotten completely out of hand

    Read More

  • How Fear Motivates the Characters in Arthur Miller’s Play, The Crucible

    770 Words  | 2 Pages

    Reverend Parris’ fear of losing his job provokes him to cry witch. Reverend Parris’ daughter feigns to be in a coma. When the doctor bade Susanna tell Reverend Parris that he “might look to unnatural things for the cause of it” (9), he denies that possibility because he fears that rumors of witchcraft under his roof would help his “many enemies” (10) to drive him from his pulpit. Later, by supporting the Salem witch trials, Reverend Parris secures his position in the church. When John Proctor brings a deposition to court signed by Mary Warren that calls Abigail and her girls’ frauds, Reverend Parris urgently tells Judge Danforth that “they’ve come to overthrow the court” (88). When Mary Warren cannot faint in court, Reverend Parris accuses her of being “a trick to blind the court” (107). After Abigail pretends that Mary Warren is attacking her, Reverend Parris spurs on the accusations by telling her to “cast the Devil out” (118). Reverend Parris fears that if Abigail becomes exposed he will be punished for supporting an illegitimate court procedure. When execution day arrives, Reverend Parris fears that the “rebellion in Andover” (127) over hangings will occur similarly in Salem. Reverend Parris pleads to Hathorne that “. . . it were another sort that we hanged till now . . . these people have great weight yet in the town” (127). Reverend Parris’ last attempt at preserv...

    Read More

  • The Change in Character of Reverend Hale in The Crucible by Arthur Miller

    1027 Words  | 3 Pages

    A crucible is a severe test as of patients or belief, a trial. The play The Crucible is a journey through the trials of many townspeople caused by the superstitious belief of witchcraft. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller progresses and evolves the outlooks and views of the townspeople of Salem and shows how events, people, and catastrophes cause the characters to change their views on whether the people prosecuted were guilty or innocent of witchcraft. Reverend John Hale changes his view, more and more drastically as the play advances, as a result of the events that he underwent and the experiences he had. Soon he had total belief in the innocence of all those convicted and hung in Salem.

    Read More

  • The Paradoxical Nature of Belonging Depicted in Arthur Miller's The Crucible

    1334 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...n the play is shown through Parris’ frequent biblical allusions. He is aligning himself with the central values of the community, hoping that this will result in his acceptance and restore his belonging, which is constantly on shaky grounds. However in his desire to relate himself with Godliness and belong to this Christian society, he goes too far and starts to compare himself with God, saying he has “fought here three long years to bend these stiff-necked people to me”. This pride and self importance leads to his exclusion by most of the townspeople.

    Read More

  • Reverend Hale Changes In The Crucible

    820 Words  | 2 Pages

    He doesn’t lose his faith in his religion, but he does lose all of his faith in witchcraft. Hale Changes. Hale is the only character through the whole play that starts out believing that witchcraft was really true and then didn’t believe in it at all. The other characters either denied or never really believed in it. Reverend Hale was the only person that gave an apology for the deaths of innocent people. None of the others that was responsible for the deaths did not give an apology. Hale had very much feelings for all of the people's death.

    Read More

  • Human Motives Exposed in The Crucible by Arthur Miller

    1463 Words  | 3 Pages

    Reverend Parris is the character that initiates the hysteria of the Salem witch trials, in a community where authorities wasted no time minding the business of it's citizens, what should have been seen as teen frivolity was blown into one of the ugliest moments in American History. Parris sparks this by firstly acting on his own paranoia, which the reader would find in the introduction 'he believed he was being persecuted where ever he went';, and calling Reverend Hale in an attempt for self-preservation '….if you trafficked with spirits in the forest I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it.'; This statement says a lot about the character of Reverend Parris: a greedy, power hungry man who is more concerned with his own reputation than the souls of his niece and daughter. He always acts on fear, a fear that he will lose his position of power in the community. Parris does not want the trials to end as a fraud because the scandal of having a lying daughter and niece would end his career in Salem.

    Read More

  • Lying In The Crucible

    1043 Words  | 3 Pages

    For instance, Parris, Abigail’s uncle and the main reverend of Salem, feels great at first when people started to get accused of being witches. He knows that witchery is unlikely in Salem because the girls admitted to just playing. However, when Parris claims that Abigail can see spirits, he saves his position in the church. It is only when he sees that he may lose his life due to this lie, that he wants to stop. Parris expresses this to the judges, “Tonight, when I open my door to leave my house—a dagger clattered down” (200). Parris starts to care when his life is at stake, but he was stress-free for a while. He foresaw positive effects of this lie, but he understands his mistake of letting the executions continue. Lastly, Proctor admits to the judge that he had an affair with Abigail because he wants this injustice to end. The judge takes Abigail’s side, but they still ask Elizabeth to confirm or deny Proctor’s confession because she is known for only telling the truth. The judge demands an

    Read More

  • The Salem Witch Trials, Hysteria and Religion

    792 Words  | 2 Pages

    At that time, Salem was a small town or village; it was a farming community that was only 550 of population. Their goal was that they want to be a model society on the hills. Not all of them were puritans because there were people that want a better life and want to live in a society out of England; their life in England were difficult. There were two groups in the village: those who were separatists and others that were puritans (those who believe in predetermination and follow the rules). Samuel Parris was a reverend that was the minister of the group of the separatist. He helped divide these two groups. The reverend Parris and his wife had 2 children living with them, who were Betty and Abigail. These two girls were the motive that the trials started. These girls screamed, rolled their eyes back into their heads, shook, twist...

    Read More

  • Essay On Reverend Parris In The Crucible

    868 Words  | 2 Pages

    Parris is only the part of a whole when it comes to what he embodies-- Parris ultimately embodies the nature of Salem, Although Salem is ruled by God, the events of The Crucible prove otherwise. Throughout the play, characters are either egotistical in their own regard or are shown committing impious acts to safeguard their reputation among Salem residents. This is not a town ruled by God; it is a town ruled by deceptive people who have no remorse for the effects caused by their ruthless

    Read More

  • Perception In The Crucible

    1406 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the play, there were many situations that in return caused new developments and even more problems in the town of Salem. The problems and situations that happened can all be tied back to perception, or the way someone regards or interprets a situation or event. Perception can be terrifying and have devastating effects on people and places. “Parris: Now then, in the midst of such disruption, my own household is discovered to be the very center of some obscene practice. Abominations are done in the forest” (1030). Parris had caught the girls dancing in the forest and viewed it as witchcraft. He could have believed Abigail that it was just sport and the whole situation in Salem could have been prevented. This one perception is what caused everyone to believe that the devil was loose in Salem. Many other perceptions took part in leading to the devastating situations that happened in

    Read More

  • Hysteria, Reputation, and Hypocrisy in The Crucible by Arthur Miller

    1014 Words  | 3 Pages

    Parris: "Aye, a dress. And I thought I saw – someone naked running through the trees.” The play, The Crucible, by Arthur Miller had very many themes in it. Some of these themes stood out more then others. These themes would be hysteria, reputation, and hypocrisy. These themes were present throughout the entire play, from the beginning till the end. When you think of a Puritan religion you may think of a very good, morally perfect society. This wasn’t the case in Salem, Massachusetts. It was actually the opposite in the play, there was lying, cheating, stealing and just about everything else you wouldn’t want in your society.

    Read More

  • The Crucible Power Analysis

    1465 Words  | 3 Pages

    Reverend Parris became a minister because he regarded himself to be holy and was blessed by God

    Read More

  • Psychological Criticism In Arthur Miller's Play The Crucible

    1396 Words  | 3 Pages

    Every character in The Crucible has a backstory that becomes well-known at some point during the play. For example, Abigail mentions, “I look for John Proctor that took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my heart… And now you bid me tear the light out of my eyes? I will not, I cannot! You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet!” (150; Act One; lines 465-472). Abigail clearly displays her affection for John, which informs the audience of their previous affair. However, since John is married and Abigail is so obviously in love with him, she is willing to do whatever it takes to keep John to herself. Abigail even goes so far as accusing his wife of witchcraft, which leads to her imprisonment. But Abigail is not the only character seeking revenge, as Mrs. Putnam’s actions openly illustrate. Mrs. Putnam, a woman who has lost seven of her eight children, undoubtedly displays her need for vengeance when she utters, “I knew it! Goody Osburn were midwife to me three time. I begged you, Thomas, did I not? I begged him not to call Osburn because I feared her. My babies always shriveled in her hands,” (162; Act One; lines 1038-1041). Here, Mrs. Putnam demonstrates her tendency to jump to conclusions when she settles with any name she hears. Mrs. Putnam is eager to place blame on anyone for the death of her children, but will not accept that her children’s deaths were not the result of witchcraft. In a similar manner, Reverend Parris also has a background that affects his present day actions. Early on in the play, Parris states, “Abigail, I have fought here three long years to bend these stiff-necked people to me, and now, just now when some good respect is rising for me in the parish, you compromise my very character,” (144; Act One; lines 121-125). Parris recognizes that as a reverend, he is well-respected within his parish, and he fears Abigail’s

    Read More

  • Cause Of The Salem Witch Trials

    2438 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...easons why we could not join with Mr.Parris in prayer, preaching, or sacraments…the said Mr. Parris having teaching such dangerous errors, and preached such scandalous immortalities, as ought to discharge any from the work of the ministry…” (Salem Witchcraft: Compromising More Wonders of the Invisible World, Collected by Robert Calef; And, Wonders of the Invisible world, by Cotton Mather: Together with Notes and Explainations. Page 161 middle). (The Witchcraft Trials in Salem: A Commentary).

    Read More

  • Changes in Character in The Crucible by Arthur Miller

    604 Words  | 2 Pages

    Reverend Samuel Parris is one character from "The Crucible" who changed drastically throughout the course of the play. In the beginni...

    Read More

More about How Did Reverend Parris Change In The Crucible

Open Document