Reputation In The Crucible Essay

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From the very start of the text we can see that reputation is a key factor in Salem, it is first noticed at the beginning of act one, when Reverend Parris’s daughter is sick due to unknown reasons, however this particular detail does not show that reputation is a motivating factor. It is the fact that Parris had found Betty dancing in the woods with various other girls from the village and at least one of them were naked. This event could prove Betty practising witchcraft, but also be the reason for her falling ill. Shortly after this event it is revealed to the reader that Parris is ashamed to call witchcraft in the “holy” town of Salem, let alone his own household, he states that he has “enemies” that if they find out this information would …show more content…

The witchcraft hysteria building, which supplanted logic, in Salem gave him an opportunity to increase his reputation as a witch finder, however this turned against him near the end of the text, as with most of the townspeople in jail and no confessions his reputation was at risk. This factor alone could have led him to be ridiculed as his entire profession relies on his reputation and knowledge. In fact by the end of the text we discover he feels as if he was the one to blame for the convictions of the townspeople, not only did he not gain any confessions, he opposed all of his ideas and beliefs about witchcraft that he entered the town of Salem with. This was revealed to us as he said “I have come to do the devil’s work” compared to the start “the devil cannot overpower a minister” Another important motivation for the characters in the crucible is power; everybody desires it. Reverend Parris cares about his power in church, as well as the power over individuals and decision making. A good example of this is how he ‘insisted’ that he have golden candle holders rather than the conventional ones. He also has power over the town of Salem, especially when it comes to meetings and decisions – after all the town of Salem is a theocracy and therefore as the church minister, theoretically he has one of the most influential roles in the

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