Reverend Samuel Parris In The Crucible Essay Example

Reverend Samuel Parris sacrificial and heroic, or is he selfish and villainous? There could be possible controversy over this subject. Some may see him as a relatively selfish person who only cares about his reputation, but if you take a look at it from a different perspective you could see him in a different way. Through the Crucible it is emphasized on how important one's reputation is. Reverend Samuel Parris disregarded this and risked his entire reputation. He shows many displays of heroism and sacrificial actions throughout the Crucible. One of the main ways that Reverend Samuel Parris shows sacrificial acts and is heroic is how he acts towards his family. The way he wants to provide support and comfort for his family, helps his daughter when she falls sick, and protects the girls in court are just some of the ways he shows courteousness and heroic actions. He sacrificed so much for her, even though some people overlook that. 

Reverend Samuel Parris cared plenty for his family. During the Salem witch trials Parris demanded that he had a greater salary than others and wanted more. This could have resulted in fights and controversy between him and citizens, but he would rather bicker with a citizen then not be able to provide for his family. Some people tended to see these actions as him being greedy and arrogant, but in reality all he wanted to do is support his family. It is obvious in the Crucible that Reverend Samuel Parris wanted to live a good and wealthy life with his family. He worked very hard for his reputation and the life that he had. Reverend Parris was a puritan minister in a church in Salem. In Act 1 Parris says, “Mr. Corey, you will look far for a man of my kind at sixty pound a year! I am not used to this poverty; I left a thrifty business in the Barbados to serve the lord.”(page 36 Miller). Reverend Samuel Parris mentions his business in Barbados because he was wealthy and successful; now that he has left that to be a minister, he is aggravated that he is paid less now. He sacrificed his fortunate life in Barbados and has a whole family to support. He was supporting his family and was doing well, and wants to continue to give his family a fortunate life. He helped the citizens of Salem, along with working to praise God; therefore he deserves more materials and a higher salary. He graduated from Harvard, ran a strong business, and has managed to give his family a great life. He is a great supporter and just wants to keep his family healthy and happy. 

As you know, the Salem witch trials were about the crime of partaking in the act of witchcraft. If you, and a family member, is accused of doing witchcraft you could be put in jail or prosecuted; your reputation will be completely ruined as well. In Act 1, Reverend Parris’s daughter, Betty, falls ill and is in a coma-like stage. She can not talk, move, or wake up. Parris gets a doctor to come check Betty, regardless of the rumors and gossip it could stir up within the town. Dr. Griggs assistant, Susanna Walcott, goes to give the message to Parris that, “Aye, sir, he have been searchin’ his books since he left you, sir. But he bid me tell you that you might look to unnatural things for the cause of it.” (page 24, Miller). Once Parris hears this he denies it and does not want to take notice of the thought of unnatural things, which could be witchcraft. If it got around Salem that Betty could be under the influence of witchcraft, his reputation and life would be ruined. Before Susanna left Parris said, “Go directly home and speak nothing of unnatural causes.”(page 24, Miller) to ensure that Susanna would not spread the rumor. Parris sacrificed the possibility of destroying his reputation to make sure his daughter was going to be okay. 

Everybody knows that lying has always been frowned upon, but in court it is to a whole different level. In Act 3 of the Crucible Reverend Samuel Parris is in the court discussing what he saw in the woods when he found the group of girls. When Parris found the girls he saw them dancing around a fire with Tituba, Tituba saying strange things over the fire, along with a naked girl running in the woods. Reverend Parris had told Hale that he had seen a girl naked, but in court when Danforth asked Parris denied the fact. Hale tried to proclaim that he was lying and told him that he did in fact see a naked girl. When Danforth questioned Parris about denying finding the girls dancing Parris responded with, “I do not, sir, but I never saw any of them naked.”(page 82, Miller). Parris lied to Danforth to protect his family, even though it could have led to his life being ruined or even being killed. When he was heroic enough to lie, he decided that his and his family's reputation was more important than the risk of getting caught in his lie and being killed. 

The time has come to answer the question we have been wondering this whole time; is Reverend Samuel Parris heroic and sacrificial, or is he selfish and villainous? After discussing his actions of sacrificing his reputation and taking many risks by wanting to provide for his family, getting a doctor for his daughter, and lying in court to protect his own; it is shown that Reverend Parris is a sacrificial, heroic person. As I said in the beginning, this topic could be a very controversial topic, but the goal of this essay was to try and bring light to the different perspectives and sides to his actions.