The Crucible Lechery Quotes

The Crucible, a play written in the 1950’s by American playwright, Arthur Miller, is based on the chaotic witch hysteria in Salem, Massachusetts during the 1600’s. Abigail, a sinful protagonist in the play, is the root to the myriad problems that conspire throughout the play. She is to blame for the executions of innocent citizens, and for acts of lechery between marriages. An important reappearing theme throughout the play is one’s reputation and the extremes the characters would take in order to preserve their name. The characters in The Crucible, particularly, Parris, John Proctor, and Judge Danforth, use the sanctity of their names to prioritize how they will look in the public eye, rather than what is beneficial to them individually.

First, Parris prioritizes his name over the wellness of his child, as well as many other innocent citizens living in Salem. Parris is primarily known throughout the village of Salem as a pious Reverend with immensely strict morals. During Act I, when the news gets out to Parris that his daughter, Betty, has been accused of witchcraft and summoning evil spirits, Parris begs for the news not to get out so his reputation will remain the same. When Mr. Putnam accuses Betty of witchcraft Parris vehemently responds, “Thomas, Thomas, I pray you, leap not to witchcraft. I know that you-you least of all, Thomas, would ever wish so disastrous a charge laid upon me. We cannot leap to witchcraft. They will howl me out of Salem for such corruption in my house” (11). By Parris saying this, he shows he is more interested in saving his name within Salem, rather than the wellness of his daughter, Betty. Looking out for the sanctity of his name, he decided to call in a witchcraft expert, Hale, to prove to the town of Salem that Betty was not touched by the Devil. Later on in Act IV, Parris displays another act of saving his reputation when he realizes that his evil niece, Abigail, is to blame for the catastrophe in Salem. Parris begs to Judge Danforth saying, “Excellency, I would postpone these hangin’s for a time” (56). Parris shows the guilt he has for the executions of the innocent citizens in Salem and does not want people to catch on that Abigail is at fault due to the fact that Abigail is Parris’ niece. A lot of the decisions Parris makes, whether they are beneficial or not, are all made in hopes of conserving his name.
Secondly, John Proctor prioritizes his reputation over his own life in Act IV. John Proctor faces a life or death situation whether he wants to lie of witchcraft in order to save his life, or, die a saintly, good person. John sees himself as a sinner, he is guilty of having a relationship with 17-year-old Abigail while his wife, Elizabeth was very sick. John confesses his sins to Elizabeth in hopes for forgiveness and love in return. Elizabeth takes some of the guilt off of Proctor by putting it on herself, telling John she is also at fault for what he has done. After having this heart-to-heart with Elizabeth, John decides he wants to confess himself in order to save his life. This decision is short lived. After Danforth asked John to turn in the paper of his confession so the whole town of Salem to see, he takes the paper and rips it up. Proctor could not let his children view their own father as a corrupt, careless person and let his selfish decisions ruin their life. Proctor cries to Danforth, “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name?” (62). John’s decision to turn himself in and deal with the consequences of being hanged, came solely from the sanctity of his name. He couldn’t let his sins define who his children were and let them face the consequences that would come.
Thirdly, Danforth makes a selfish decision by prioritizing his name over the dozens of citizens he sentenced to be hanged.

Judge Danforth, the deputy governor of Massachusetts and leading judge of the Salem witch trials, is described as a man who can do no wrong. The innocent citizens listen and obey to everything that Danforth requests. Part of the reason why Danforth believes he can do no wrong is because he feels he is guided by God, “The law, based upon the Bible, and the Bible, writ by Almighty God, forbid the practice of witchcraft, and describe death as the penalty thereof” (46). Danforth must follow God’s instructions and execute the accused citizens of witchcraft in Salem. As the play progresses the population of Salem decreases due to the amount of hangings, Danforth realizes Abigail is the one at fault. Danforth is put on a problematic situation. Danforth knows he’s killed so many innocent citizens but if he steps down from the court, he would be admitting to all his wrongdoings and he’s reputation would be ruined. When Danforth finds out Proctor is going to be hanged due to witchcraft he says, “Mr. Proctor, you have been notified, have you not? I see light in the sky, Mister; let you counsel with your wife, and may God help you turn your back on Hell.” (58). In this quote, Danforth is trying to persuade Proctor to confess of witchcraft even though he is innocent of it, just because he doesn’t want to be the one to hang him. Danforth is put in a very complicated

situation, he choses to continue to remain judge of the court due to the sanctity of his name. He knew that if he stepped down from the court, his name would forever be ruined.
Overall, reputation, an important reappearing theme in The Crucible, is prioritized over what would be beneficial to Parris, Proctor, and Danforth individually.

Parris shows how important his name means to him when Betty is accused of being touched by the Devil. Parris calls in Hale in hopes any rumors of witchcraft would be cleared of his name. Proctor makes a life or death decision, whether he was going to lie to the court and his name forever be ruined, or die a good saintly person. Proctor chooses to die a saintly person because he did not want to ruin his name for his kids. Danforth has to make a very arduous decision when he finally realizes that the dozens of citizens he’s killed have been innocent. Danforth puts his name before the citizen’s lives by remaining judge of the court. The characters sanctity of their name is often used to help with their decision making throughout the

play.