Vanessa Kane
Ms. Keane
English 3 Period 6
31 October 2016
Themes and the Underlying Messages “Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God knows of us” (Paine). In the play, The Crucible, by Arthur Miller. The Salem Witch Trials are taking place and people are being accused left and right for acts they didn’t commit. Reverend Parris, Judge Danforth, and John Proctor fight to keep a good name in this town while being accused of witchcraft. As they focus on keeping a good reputation, the people of Salem must fear that the sins of people around them will result in the blackening of their name. In the beginning of the play as Betty, daughter of Reverend Parris and cousin of Abigail, will not wake which …show more content…
If anyone tries to disprove his judgments of witchcraft he quickly shuts them down and is then dismissed, questioned and could even be arrested. Daniel Burt says, “Deputy Governor Danforth, whom Miller called "the rule-bearer, the man who always guards the boundaries which, if you insist on breaking through them, have the power to destroy you (Burt). As Daniel Burt says, Danforth has extreme power over this town by and he shows he has all this power by saying, “This is the highest court of the supreme government of this province…Near to four hundred are in jails… and upon my signature… seventy-two condemned to hang by that signature (Miller) he shows just that. Danforth put his pride on display here and later when Proctor bring evidence that the girls are lying, Danforth starts to get very defensive. He starts question Proctor on his motives and worries if he is trying to go against the court. Danforth says, “A person is either with this court or against it… no uncorrupted man may fear this court”(Miller). After he starts to question Proctors true motives he orders the 99 people who signed the petition to be arrested. If Proctor were to prove that the girls had been lying, it would make all his judgements weak and would completely ruin his reputation as an authentic …show more content…
As he tries to confess his affair with Abigail to the judge he must prove his deceitful action. John tells the judge, “Oh, Francis, I wish you had some evil in you that you might know me. A man will not cast away his good name. You surely know that (Miller).” Proctor sacrifices his reputation to save his wife. He gives away his good reputation when he commits adultery, but his action of honesty gains back respect. He is willing to confess but not give away his good name by writing a signature on a document, John says, “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies!... How may I live without my name? I have Given you my soul; leave me my name! (Miller)” Proctor is unwilling to pin his name on the church and blacken not only his name but the names of his friends and is family. Although he could have been saved with his wife he chooses to stay loyal and prove his integrity by ripping up the confession. “In a powerful dramatic scene, Proctor insists that his name not be used to damage the reputation of others, and even though his inspiring act of courage and nobility leads directly to his execution, it simultaneously becomes the basis for his own personal redemption.” (Steven Centile) In the end Reputation played a big role in Puritan society. The name you held for yourself was overlooked by everyone in the village. If you
Ms. Keane
English 3 Period 6
31 October 2016
Themes and the Underlying Messages “Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God knows of us” (Paine). In the play, The Crucible, by Arthur Miller. The Salem Witch Trials are taking place and people are being accused left and right for acts they didn’t commit. Reverend Parris, Judge Danforth, and John Proctor fight to keep a good name in this town while being accused of witchcraft. As they focus on keeping a good reputation, the people of Salem must fear that the sins of people around them will result in the blackening of their name. In the beginning of the play as Betty, daughter of Reverend Parris and cousin of Abigail, will not wake which …show more content…
If anyone tries to disprove his judgments of witchcraft he quickly shuts them down and is then dismissed, questioned and could even be arrested. Daniel Burt says, “Deputy Governor Danforth, whom Miller called "the rule-bearer, the man who always guards the boundaries which, if you insist on breaking through them, have the power to destroy you (Burt). As Daniel Burt says, Danforth has extreme power over this town by and he shows he has all this power by saying, “This is the highest court of the supreme government of this province…Near to four hundred are in jails… and upon my signature… seventy-two condemned to hang by that signature (Miller) he shows just that. Danforth put his pride on display here and later when Proctor bring evidence that the girls are lying, Danforth starts to get very defensive. He starts question Proctor on his motives and worries if he is trying to go against the court. Danforth says, “A person is either with this court or against it… no uncorrupted man may fear this court”(Miller). After he starts to question Proctors true motives he orders the 99 people who signed the petition to be arrested. If Proctor were to prove that the girls had been lying, it would make all his judgements weak and would completely ruin his reputation as an authentic …show more content…
As he tries to confess his affair with Abigail to the judge he must prove his deceitful action. John tells the judge, “Oh, Francis, I wish you had some evil in you that you might know me. A man will not cast away his good name. You surely know that (Miller).” Proctor sacrifices his reputation to save his wife. He gives away his good reputation when he commits adultery, but his action of honesty gains back respect. He is willing to confess but not give away his good name by writing a signature on a document, John says, “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies!... How may I live without my name? I have Given you my soul; leave me my name! (Miller)” Proctor is unwilling to pin his name on the church and blacken not only his name but the names of his friends and is family. Although he could have been saved with his wife he chooses to stay loyal and prove his integrity by ripping up the confession. “In a powerful dramatic scene, Proctor insists that his name not be used to damage the reputation of others, and even though his inspiring act of courage and nobility leads directly to his execution, it simultaneously becomes the basis for his own personal redemption.” (Steven Centile) In the end Reputation played a big role in Puritan society. The name you held for yourself was overlooked by everyone in the village. If you