Reputation Theme In The Crucible

The year of 1692 marked a monumental year in American history. Salem, Massachusetts saw the deaths of nearly twenty people. Nineteen hung, one stoned to death, and four adults along with several babies died as prisoners in jail. In sum, over one hundred and fifty people were accused of witchcraft in one of the most notorious events in American history: The Salem Witch Trials. Through Arthur Miller’s Playwright, The Crucible, we are able to see exactly how pride, integrity, and reputation can play an enormous role in a very small town.

In order to fully understand The Salem Witch Trials and The Crucible, one must completely understand Puritan society as a whole along with all of its beliefs. The Puritan lifestyle was one that was influenced by the church. Out of all 13 colonies Massachusetts, in particular, was known for its strong sense of rigid religion. According to Discovery Education, “Church was the cornerstone of the

Reputation is the way others perceive you while integrity is the way we view ourselves. Numerous characters were challenged by the issue of protecting their integrity or protecting their reputation. Characters such as Parris and Abigail chose to protect their reputations. While, Rebecca Nurse and eventually John Proctor chose to protect their integrity.

In law abiding communities, such as Salem, a bad reputation can result in social or even physical punishment. The Crucible, argues that those concerned with reputation, like Parris and Abigail, are hazardous members to society: to protect their own selves, they are willing to throw others under the bus. In turn this fuels hysteria. In Contrast, this play shows that those who favor integrity by admitting faulties and refusing to lie, stop the spreading of hysteria. Willing to die for what they believe in, these integrity based individuals put a stop to the fear that feeds