Mira Thekdi
Mrs. Ball
American Literature
22 September 2015
[Insert Title] Arthur Miller’s ignominious reputation presented many conflicts in both his career and personal life. He lost money, got denied film productions, and more. In The Crucible, having a proper reputation was notably important in Salem because of the witchcraft trials, where the false accusations made in court can quickly ruin a person's life. Ergo, many of the characters in Salem are troubled about the perception of their name, since someone with a bad name is more likely to be accused in the trials than somebody with a pure one. Arthur Miller uses The Crucible as a vehicle to advocate that one’s reputation is their most sacred asset, as demonstrated by Miller’s personal …show more content…
In the beginning of the play, Miller characterizes Proctor as “the kind of man-- powerful of body, even-tempered, and not easily led-- who cannot refuse” (20). Here, Miller is describing Proctor as a no-nonsense man, someone who is more intelligent than everyone else, and knows it. This also demonstrates dramatic irony: while the reader knows that Proctor has sinned, most characters in the book do not, which provides two views to his reputation. Towards the end of Act IV, Proctor demonstrates how important his reputation is to him when he he cries, “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life… I have given you my soul; leave me my name” (143). Proctor is essentially willing to die if it means he can protect his reputation. Although Proctor’s reputation is getting in the way at this point, it is the only thing he has left to hang onto or that gives him …show more content…
Thus, the perception of their name leaves a lot of the characters in Salem distraught, considering someone with a clean reputation is less likely to be accused in the trials than somebody with a corrupted one. Arthur Miller lost money, was banned from career opportunities, and more, merely as a consequence of his dishonorable reputation. The Crucible is used by Arthur Miller as a vehicle to support the idea that one’s reputation is the most sacred thing they hold, and is demonstrated by not only Miller’s personal experiences, but the situations John Proctor and Reverend Parris find themselves in throughout the play. Reputation remains an important factor in society today. Popular social figures and politicians especially are distressed about retaining a positive reputation with the public. At the same time individuals still value their name among friends, family, teammates and
Mrs. Ball
American Literature
22 September 2015
[Insert Title] Arthur Miller’s ignominious reputation presented many conflicts in both his career and personal life. He lost money, got denied film productions, and more. In The Crucible, having a proper reputation was notably important in Salem because of the witchcraft trials, where the false accusations made in court can quickly ruin a person's life. Ergo, many of the characters in Salem are troubled about the perception of their name, since someone with a bad name is more likely to be accused in the trials than somebody with a pure one. Arthur Miller uses The Crucible as a vehicle to advocate that one’s reputation is their most sacred asset, as demonstrated by Miller’s personal …show more content…
In the beginning of the play, Miller characterizes Proctor as “the kind of man-- powerful of body, even-tempered, and not easily led-- who cannot refuse” (20). Here, Miller is describing Proctor as a no-nonsense man, someone who is more intelligent than everyone else, and knows it. This also demonstrates dramatic irony: while the reader knows that Proctor has sinned, most characters in the book do not, which provides two views to his reputation. Towards the end of Act IV, Proctor demonstrates how important his reputation is to him when he he cries, “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life… I have given you my soul; leave me my name” (143). Proctor is essentially willing to die if it means he can protect his reputation. Although Proctor’s reputation is getting in the way at this point, it is the only thing he has left to hang onto or that gives him …show more content…
Thus, the perception of their name leaves a lot of the characters in Salem distraught, considering someone with a clean reputation is less likely to be accused in the trials than somebody with a corrupted one. Arthur Miller lost money, was banned from career opportunities, and more, merely as a consequence of his dishonorable reputation. The Crucible is used by Arthur Miller as a vehicle to support the idea that one’s reputation is the most sacred thing they hold, and is demonstrated by not only Miller’s personal experiences, but the situations John Proctor and Reverend Parris find themselves in throughout the play. Reputation remains an important factor in society today. Popular social figures and politicians especially are distressed about retaining a positive reputation with the public. At the same time individuals still value their name among friends, family, teammates and