The Crucible Reputation Essay
The importance placed on one’s perceived character and reputation is quite prevalent in today’s society. The same can be seen in Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible. This is a drama based on the historical event called the Salem witch trials. Where many people were accused of witchcraft and sentenced to death with no evidence besides for the paranormal events that the accusers claimed to see. Through this event Miller touches on the values present in the puritan village of Salem. One of the most prevalent values shown is reputation. Throughout the play Arthur Miller is trying to communicate that highly valuing one’s reputation above all else can hurt them or the ones that they are close to. Starting in act one where the knowledge of the young
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This is also when the proctors start to be questioned in court. Danforth says “Look at me! To your own knowledge, has John Proctor ever committed the crime of lecher? Answer my question! Is your husband a lecher!” to which Elizabeth responded “No, sir” (Miller 190). In this case Elizabeth is lying and trying to protect her husband’s reputation because she doesn’t know the circumstances under which she is being asked that question. So in trying to protect his name she exposes herself as a liar, which leads to Johns death. If she hadn’t lied in hopes of protecting her husband’s name their stories would have corroborated and it would have helped Johns case. While in the court room John is asked whether his wife is trustworthy on not. “In her life, sir, she have never lied. There are them that cannot sing, and them that cannot weep-my wife cannot lie” (Miller 190). This is right before Elizabeth is asked that fateful question. In doing this he builds her reputation for telling the truth which turns out to be wrong and hurts his case when she does end up lying to protect his name. In act three we see the story finally start to turn out and almost come to the boiling point and the eventual
This is also when the proctors start to be questioned in court. Danforth says “Look at me! To your own knowledge, has John Proctor ever committed the crime of lecher? Answer my question! Is your husband a lecher!” to which Elizabeth responded “No, sir” (Miller 190). In this case Elizabeth is lying and trying to protect her husband’s reputation because she doesn’t know the circumstances under which she is being asked that question. So in trying to protect his name she exposes herself as a liar, which leads to Johns death. If she hadn’t lied in hopes of protecting her husband’s name their stories would have corroborated and it would have helped Johns case. While in the court room John is asked whether his wife is trustworthy on not. “In her life, sir, she have never lied. There are them that cannot sing, and them that cannot weep-my wife cannot lie” (Miller 190). This is right before Elizabeth is asked that fateful question. In doing this he builds her reputation for telling the truth which turns out to be wrong and hurts his case when she does end up lying to protect his name. In act three we see the story finally start to turn out and almost come to the boiling point and the eventual