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The Crucible: Importance Of Reputation

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Alexis Wauford

Mrs. Hollewell

The Crucible

11 May 2017

Importance of Reputations in The Crucible

The desire to maintain an upstanding reputation greatly affects characters in The Crucible. During this time period, people were very concerned with their positions in society. They were in a very judgemental community where everyone knew each other, and because of this, people were very worried about how others perceived them. A poor reputation could cost someone their social life and many characters made decisions based upon this. The decisions that the characters made affect not only themselves, but the characters around them. A few examples of characters who worry about their reputation are John Proctor, Abigail Williams, and Reverend …show more content…
However, Abigail tries very hard to keep up her act as a pure and innocent girl. During Act 1, Reverend Parris questions Abigail about why she was asked to leave the Proctor’s home, she angrily responds saying, “My name is good in the village! I will not have it said my name is soiled! (Miller 916). Abigail’s whole life depends on her maintaining a good reputation, if it is found out that she sleeps around with other people's husbands no one will hire her as a housemaid. Also if Parris finds out he will most likely kick her out of his house to keep his good reputation. Abigail would do almost anything to keep attention away from her and make sure she doesn’t get in trouble. She knows that as long as she can convince Danforth that she is innocent and only tells the truth her life will not be put in danger. She accused innocent people even thought she knew that if she accused them their punishment could be death. If Abigail had a reputation for sleeping around married men, and being a liar she would have never been able to accuse others. Her testimony would mean nothing because she would be looked down on in society …show more content…
No matter what happens, even when his daughter is lying unconscious in a bed, Parris is always concerned with keeping his reputation. In the beginning of Act 1 Parris is very concerned that Abigail has been involved in witchcraft. She denies that she is and he isn't fully convinced so he further questions her saying, “ Abigail, I have fought here three long years to bend these stiff-necked people to me, and now, just now when some good respect is rising for me in the parish, you compromise my very character. I have given you a home, child, I have put clothes upon your back- now give me upright answer. Your name in the town- it is entirely white, is it not?(Miller 916). This shows that Parris is only concerned with how his Parish sees him. He isnt concerned about the affect this supposed witchcraft could have on his daughter and niece, he only cares that his reputation that he worked so hard to keep will not be affected. Throughout the whole play we see that Parris will do everything in his power to keep his good reputation (Miller).

The importance of a good reputation is a huge theme in The Crucible. Many characters display their desire to protect and keep their spotless reputations. Keeping their reputations was of importance in their Puritan society during that time because your social status was directly connected to your reputation. If something were to harm your good reputation it would most likely affect

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