REPUTATION
ACT I
Parris: “Oh, Abigail, what proper payment for my charity! Now I am undone.” (11 )
In this passage, Revered Parris is scolding Abigail for being in the woods with Tituba. When he says he is undone,
he is referring to his reputation. It looks extremely bad if the Reverend’s own niece is participating in suspicious
activity.
Abigail: “My name is good in the village! I will not have it said my name is soiled.” (p. 12)
Here, Abigail, in a “temper,” is defending her reputation with her uncle Reverend Parris. He asks her if there is a
reason why she was fired from the Proctor household. She gets extremely defensive and declares that her
reputation or name is not tainted or soiled.
ACT II
Hale: “There is a softness in your record ,sir, a softness (p. 66)
Hale is noting here that John Proctor has a reputation in town for not attending church.
Hale: “If Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then nothing’s left to stop the whole green world from burning.” (p. 71).
Rebecca Nurse has a reputation of being a pious, god fearing
ACT III
Danforth: “And do you know that near to four hundred are in the jails from Marblehead to Lynn and upon my
signature?” (p. 87)
Danforth: “I pray you, Mr. Parris. Do you know, Mr. Proctor that the entire contention of the state in these trials is
that the voice of Heaven is speaking
Danforth: Stage directions p. 93
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ACT IV
Danforth: “Postponement speaks a floundering on my part.” (p. 129)
Proctor: “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life!.....I have given you my soul; leave me
my name!” (p. 143)
QUESTION: What role does the theme of reputation play in The Crucible?
THESIS: Throughout the play The Crucible, the reputation of each individual
dictates his or her actions. The actions of Reverend Samuel Parris, Judge Danforth
and John Proctor are directly related to their attempts to uphold their good names.
SAMPLE BODY PARAGRAPH
One character in The Crucible whose concern for reputation dictates his
actions is Reverend Samuel Parris. Reverend Parris is a weak, paranoid and
suspicious church leader in Salem. He instigates the witchcraft panic when he
finds his daughter and niece dancing in the woods with several other girls. When
his daughter, Betty, appears to be in some type of comatose state, Reverend Parris
is more concerned for what the townspeople will think of him, rather than his own
daughter’s health. When scolding Abigail about her actions in the woods that led
to Betty’s condition, Parris exclaims, “Oh, Abigail, what proper payment for my
charity! Now I am undone.” (p. 11). When he says he is undone, he is referring to
his reputation and the fact that it is on the brink of being ruined. It looks
extremely bad if the Reverend’s own niece is participating in suspicious activity.
Parris knows the truth that Abigail is lying about the dancing and the witchcraft,
but perpetuates the deception because it is in his own self interest. Parris fears any
defense against the charges of witchcraft as an attack upon the court and a personal
attack on him. Therefore, every action or move that Parris makes is directly
related to his concern for upholding his reputation.
Another character in The Crucible whose focus on his reputation motivates
his actions is John Proctor.
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Finally, Deputy Governor Danforth is another example of a character whose
actions are directly related to his concern for his reputation.