The Crucible

In the play The Crucible, characters are presented in many ways. The ways Miller presents the character of Parris is through what the characters say, stage directions, what the character of Parris says and does and the relationships that Parris has with other characters in the play.

At the beginning of the play, Miller describes Reverend Parris using narration. This is the first impressions we get of Parris.
“…discovered kneeling next to a bed, evidently in prayer…”
From this we know that the character of Parris is seen to be austere and that he has faith in God to make better what has gone wrong. As we see him praying to God we know that he is a puritan who believes that God will help him and make solutions to all his problems. As he is seen to be mumbling it also mentions how
“…confusion hangs about him. He mumbles.”
He is seen to be worrying because of the crisis he is in. From the stage directions it seems to be that he is deep in thought. He is not sure as to yet what has taken place but he knows that the people of Salem will be quick to judge him on his actions. This is seen to be another reason as to why he is turning to god as he is his last hope. The word ‘confusion’ shows the anxiousness and how he is afraid because he has no solution or cure. This links to there being a presence of evil which he is considering as he has no evidence to prove otherwise. The word ‘mumbling’ shows how he is trying to console himself because of what is happening and he is trying to persuade to himself that it can’t be from witchcraft. Another reason he may be mumbling is because he doesn’t want anyone to hear what he is saying. The people he thinks may hear may be the audience or the villagers of Salem.

In the stage directions it is also ...

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...cial. When Putnam questions Parris as to what he has heard is more asked as an accusation,
“They say you’ve sent for Reverend Hale of Beverly?”
The way in which Putnam asks the questions shows that he is stating as if Reverend Parris can not cope and does not what to do. He is trying to depreciate his status in the village and is mentioning very slyly how he is happy to have someone else who is better and will solve this problem of witchcraft. The words ‘they say’ start of as a rhetorical question but end as if he wants an answer and would be very relieved if the answer is what he is wanting to hear. From this we can assume that Putman and Mrs Putnam both do not like him much and he does not like them as he is always trying to stand up for himself when they are there and that they are always trying to bring him back down.

Works Cited

The Crucible by Arthur Miller