To numerous people, what others believe is true of them is greater than their actual character. Such is the case for several characters within Miller’s The Crucible. Within the text, there are several instances where characters will tell lies to preserve their reputations or to save their own lives, potentially endangering others. Even though confessions to crimes they did not commit could tarnish their reputation, they realize they would never be able to amend a reputation from the grave. For this reason, several characters in Miller’s The Crucible, including John Proctor, Abigail Williams, and Mary Warren, are willing to take several different although equally drastic measures to protect their own name. In Act I of The Crucible it quickly
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She lies, not only concerning her own involvement with witchcraft, but also about John Proctor and his participation with the Devil. In order to win over the group of girls and the court, Mary Warren relents to the mass lie in the way of what they attempted to participate in in the woods, terrified of telling the truth any longer. Even before she turns on John Proctor she is hesitant toward telling the truth. When Proctor tells Mary she must reveal the truth, Mary conveys her concerns, saying, “I cannot, they 'll turn on me—” (The Crucible, Act II) It is revealed that eventually Mary will revert back to the original lie just as the other girls to protect her own reputation and …show more content…
It seems that there is nothing the citizens of Salem value more than an honorable name. Rather than tell the truth and believe they will be taken at their word, they decide to live in a lie. However, it becomes clear that the truth is just as harmful as telling a lie. What those living in Salem cannot seem to understand is the idea of others before self. It seems every person, with the exception of the Proctors, is so focused on themselves they forget to consider those around them, and they are willing to destroy anyone who dares threaten them, even if it means harming
She lies, not only concerning her own involvement with witchcraft, but also about John Proctor and his participation with the Devil. In order to win over the group of girls and the court, Mary Warren relents to the mass lie in the way of what they attempted to participate in in the woods, terrified of telling the truth any longer. Even before she turns on John Proctor she is hesitant toward telling the truth. When Proctor tells Mary she must reveal the truth, Mary conveys her concerns, saying, “I cannot, they 'll turn on me—” (The Crucible, Act II) It is revealed that eventually Mary will revert back to the original lie just as the other girls to protect her own reputation and …show more content…
It seems that there is nothing the citizens of Salem value more than an honorable name. Rather than tell the truth and believe they will be taken at their word, they decide to live in a lie. However, it becomes clear that the truth is just as harmful as telling a lie. What those living in Salem cannot seem to understand is the idea of others before self. It seems every person, with the exception of the Proctors, is so focused on themselves they forget to consider those around them, and they are willing to destroy anyone who dares threaten them, even if it means harming