the crucible reverend parris essay

Character Study of Reverend Parris of 'The Crucible'

He's no one's favorite clergyman

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Like many of the events and characters in “The Crucible,” Reverend Parris is based on an actual person: Reverend Samuel Parris. Parris became the minister of Salem Village in 1689, and he was as involved in the real witch trials as Arthur Miller’s character. Some historians even consider him a primary cause of the ordeal, citing sermons in which he described, with great certainty, the presence of the Devil in Salem; he even went so far as to write a sermon titled “Christ Knows How Many Devils There Are,” in which he mentioned that “dreadful witchcraft broke out here a few weeks past,” instilling fear among the congregation.

Parris: The Character

In " The Crucible ," Parris is shown to be despicable in many ways, some of which are based on the real person. This town preacher believes himself to be a pious man, but in truth, he is motivated entirely by self-interest.

Many of Parris' parishioners, including the Proctor family, have stopped attending church on a regular basis; his sermons of hellfire and damnation have shunned many of Salem's residents. Because of his unpopularity, he feels persecuted by many of the citizens of Salem. Still, a few residents, such as Mr. and Mrs. Putnam, do favor his harsh sense of spiritual authority.

Parris’ Reputation

Throughout the play, one of Parris’ main concerns is for his reputation. When his own daughter falls ill, his main worries are not for her health but for what the town will think of him if they suspect there is witchcraft in his home. In Act 3, when Mary Warren testifies that she and the girls were only ever pretending to be affected by witchcraft, Parris pushes her statement aside—he would rather continue the trials than deal with the scandal of his daughter and niece being known as liars.

Parris’ Greed

Parris is also motivated by selfishness, though he camouflages his actions with a facade of holiness. For example, he once wanted his church to have gold candlesticks. Therefore, according to John Proctor , the reverend preached only about the candlesticks until he attained them.

In addition, Proctor once mentions that Salem's previous ministers never owned property. Parris, on the other hand, demands to have the deed to his home. This is a power play as well, as he fears that the residents may cast him out of the town and, therefore, wants an official claim to his property.

Parris’ End

Parris' lack of redeemable qualities continues to show during the play's resolution. He wants to save John Proctor from the hangman's noose, but only because he worries that the town may rise against him and perhaps kill him in retaliation. Even after Abigail steals his money and runs away, he never admits fault, making his character all the more frustrating to behold.

• Arthur Miller's 'The Crucible': Plot Summary
• "The Crucible" Character Study: Reverend John Hale
• 'The Crucible' Characters
• The Crucible Overview
• 'The Crucible' Character Study: John Proctor
• The Crucible Themes
• Abigail Williams of the Salem Witch Trials
• Tituba and The Salem Witch Trials of 1692
• 'The Crucible' Character Study: Judge Danforth
• Crucible Character Study of Abigail Williams
• 'The Crucible' Character Study: Rebecca Nurse
• The Role of Witch's Cake in Salem
• 'Crucible' Character Study: Elizabeth Proctor
• 'The Crucible' Quotes
• Biography of Elizabeth Parris, Accuser in the Salem Witch Trials
• Salem Witch Trials Timeline

The Crucible

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The Crucible

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Reverend Samuel Parris

Reverend Parris is the minister of Salem, Massachusetts. He is a highly educated man and a former merchant who often complains that he does not get paid enough for his services. Parris does not appear to believe in witchcraft and expresses his disdain for rumors of witchcraft at the beginning of the play. The Putnams, however, convince Parris that “discovering” the presence of witches in Salem is the only way to gain the favor of his congregation (and thus maintain control over them). Because Parris is obsessed with maintaining control and preserving his reputation, he pretends to believe in witches.

During the witch trials, Parris becomes a prosecutor. As a prosecutor, he convicts and executes many members of Salem’s community. By the end of the play, when Parris learns of a potential uprising, he begins to feel anxious about his role in these executions.

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The Crucible: Reverend Samuel Parris Analysis

• The Crucible: Reverend Samuel Parris…

Throughout The Crucible we are introduced to and follow four or five important characters that Arthur Miller elaborated upon. One of those characters is Reverend Samuel Parris, a bitter minister who came to Salem for unclear reasons.

That reason may have been he was looking for a small town to control, maybe he was trying to escape something or someone, or he may have just wanted a fresh, clean start; whatever that reason was it is for sure he had no idea what he was going to start. If the blame of the Salem Witchcraft Trials were to be traced back to one individual it would certainly be Reverend Parris.

When we are first introduced to Parris he is at the side of his daughter’s bed praying for his recovery.  It is Parris who calls in Hale and other experts so that a cure may be found for his daughter.  Once word got out that there were witch hunters in Salem all hell broke loose.  As three warrants are sent out to arrest the supposed witches the long blood bath that is to follow is set into motion. 

During the trials, Parris is sure to attack the character of every defendant leaving no one pure.  When Frances Nurse brings a petition with 91 names on it, a petition to set Rebecca, Goody Proctor, and Martha Corey free Parris demands that all those on the list be called in for questioning.  pg93 Danforth, glancing at the list: How many names are here? Frances: Ninety-one, Your Excellency. Parris, sweating: These people should be summoned.  Danforth looks up at him questioningly. For questioning. Parris: This is a clear attack upon the court!

Parris also attacks Mary Warren harshly when she changes sides to help John Proctor clear his wife’s name. Once Mary claims she fainted at will he tries to make her prove this, and once he has weakened her whole defensive stand, the other girls move in for the kill forcing her to turn on the man she could have saved.  Parris could not let it be proven that the girls were liars for if it was both his daughter and niece would be caught in the middle of this elaborate fabrication. 

Of course, if they were proven to be the liars it would reflect upon his own character and involvement in the bloody game. At the end of the novel, Parris does show remorse for the whole ordeal, once John Proctor is sentenced to hang Parris finally realizes that this has all been wrong.

Parris pleads with Elizabeth to convince John to convince so that his life will be spared for this is the blood that will be on Parris’s own hands. But do not be followed this is also a selfish act for if he could have gotten Proctor to confess it would have justified the other hangings. pg145 Parris (In deadly fear to Elizabeth): ” Go to him Goody Proctor! There is time yet!” From outside a drumroll strikes the air. Parris is startled.

Elizabeth jerks about toward the window. Parris: Go to him! He rushes out the door to hold back his fate. Proctor! Proctor!  Samuel Parris was a man who used the Trails for vengeance, vengeance for everything that has ever happened to him.  For once in his life, this man had absolute power, although once this power was used his role of importance was taken away by Danforth and others.

Maybe it was that once he was knocked off his pedestal he finally realized all this was wrong.  Maybe by the end of the novel he finally realized that he was wrong, there were no witches, or it could have been he just wanted the satisfaction of Proctors confession; but whatever it was it really doesn’t matter now all are dead and gone.  Without Parris, the Trails would not have escalated to what they became, or just maybe they would have never even begun.

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Reverend Parris Character Analysis In The Crucible

To begin, in the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Reverend Parris fights to keep authority and a good name as he fears losing it. This action first comes into the beginning of the play when Parris comes to realize that he has the ability to manipulate the people in his town to fear witchcraft, resulting in maintaining his authority. 

As Parris and Thomas Putnam are speaking, he says, “Thomas would ever wish so disastrous a charge laid upon me. We cannot leap to witchcraft. They will howl me out of Salem, for such corruption in my house” (Miller 1.262-266). This quote reflects how he presses fearing witchcraft onto not only Putnam but many others. By expressing how he should resent witchcraft while mentioning his own hierarchy shows that he is going to manipulate people so that he can selfishly grasp onto his authority. In addition, while Parris is in the courtroom in act III, he shows anxiety over maintaining his ego and authority with defensiveness. 

Since Abigail is Parris’ niece, he believes that if the court gets her, he’ll be taken down too. This shows that he is fearful of anything bad said on his name, even if it wasn’t directly him being targeted. As a result, he defends Abigail for his own sake every chance he has. As Parris’ anxiety and anger continues to rise, he says “Excellency, she were under Tituba’s power at that time, but she is solemn now” (Miller 3.872-874). As previously stated, this quote shows how he will say whatever he needs so that nothing bad reflects on his name. Even if Abigail is not always the victim, he will always portray her as one in the courtroom. Parris defending Abigail at any chance he has will make him look better in the long run because he wants nothing bad on his name so that he can grasp his authority. 

Lastly, in act four Parris Parris shows how he’s trying to continue his authority while saving his own life. As Parris is still worried about having a good name he spoke to Danforth about postponing the witch trials and hanging to save himself. Parris says to him, “You cannot hang this sort. There is danger for me. I dare not step outside at night!” (Miller 4.300-303). At this point in the play, Parris has found a dagger that has fallen from against his door symbolizing a threat to his life which makes him fearful. He is also concerned that if such well-respected people like John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse are killed from the witchcraft trials the town will rescind against him and he may be killed himself. Ultimately, Parris’ main goal in act 4 was not only to keep authority but mainly to keep himself alive.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — The Crucible — Reverend Parris’s Traits of Selfishness in The Crucible

Reverend Parris's Traits of Selfishness in The Crucible

• Categories: The Crucible

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Published: Jun 29, 2018

Words: 971 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

• Lorenz, M. (2016). “The Lightning of My Being”: The Byronic Struggle and Apotheosis of John Proctor. The Arthur Miller Journal, 11(1), 10-20. (https://scholarlypublishingcollective.org/psup/arthur-miller/article-abstract/11/1/10/222793)
• Warhurst, J. (2020). Maslow,'texts and human experiences and the crucible'. Metaphor, (1), 39-50. (https://search.informit.org/doi/abs/10.3316/informit.054389661729138)
• Curtis, P. (1965). The Crucible. Critical Review, 8, 45. (https://www.proquest.com/openview/5dd8ecd8022057c725bea9b694347a10/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=1817655)
• Mattia, D. M. (2018). “The Unwelcome Truth”: Arthur Miller’s The Crucible as Satirical Political Allegory. (https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/etd/142/)
• Gawazah, L., & Mungenga, N. J. (2020). A PSYCHOANALYSIS OF THE CRUCIBLE: REVEREND PARRIS'NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER. (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lazarus-Gawazah/publication/344467887_Mental_Health_issues_among_world_leaders/links/5f7a5593299bf1b53e0e3076/Mental-Health-issues-among-world-leaders.pdf)

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Reverend Parris Quotes

Parris was in his middle forties. In history he cut a villainous path, and there is very little good to be said for him. He believed he was being persecuted wherever he went, despite his best efforts to win people and God to his side. In meeting, he felt insulted if someone rose to shut the door without asking his permission.

– Arthur Miller

TITUBA (already taking a step backward): My Betty be hearty soon? PARRIS: Out of here! TITUBA (backing to the door): My Betty not goin’ die… PARRIS (scrambling to his feet in a fury): Out of my sight!

And what shall I say to them? That my daughter and my niece I discovered dancing like heathen in the forest?

Now look you, child, your punishment will come in its time. But if you trafficked with spirits in the forest I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it.

Then why can she not move herself since midnight? This child is desperate! It must come out – my enemies will bring it out. Let me know what you done there. Abigail, do you understand that I have many enemies?

There is a faction that is sworn to drive me from my pulpit. Do you understand that?

I saw Tituba waving her arms over the fire when I came on you. Why was she doing that? And I heard a screeching and gibberish coming from her mouth. She were swaying like a dumb beast over that fire!

PARRIS: I cannot blink what I saw, Abigail, for my enemies will not blink it. I saw a dress lying on the grass…Aye, a dress. And I thought I saw – someone naked running through the trees! ABIGAIL: No one was naked! You mistake yourself, uncle!

And I pray you feel the weight of truth upon you, for now my ministry’s at stake, my ministry and perhaps your cousin’s life.

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.

PARRIS: Your name in the town – it is entirely white, is it not? ABIGAIL: Why, I am sure it is, sir. There be no blush about my name.

Abigail, is there any other cause than you have told me, for your being discharged from Goody Proctor’s service? I have heard it said, and I tell you as I heard it, that she comes so rarely to the church this year for she will not sit so close to something soiled. What signified that remark?

Thomas, Thomas, I pray you, leap not to witchcraft. I know that you – you least of all, Thomas, would ever wish so disastrous a charge laid upon me. We cannot leap to witchcraft. They will howl me out of Salem for such a corruption in my house.

Oh, Abigail, what proper payment for my charity! Now I am undone.

PUTNAM: Now look you, sir. Let you strike out against the Devil, and the village will bless you for it! Come down, speak to them – pray with them. They’re thirsting for your word, Mister! Surely you’ll pray with them. PARRIS: I’ll lead them in a psalm, but let you say nothing of witchcraft yet. I will not discuss it. The cause is yet unknown. I have had enough contention since I came; I want no more.

PARRIS: A wide opinion’s running in the parish that the Devil may be among us, and I would satisfy them that they are wrong. PROCTOR: Then let you come out and call them wrong. Did you consult the wardens before you called this minister to look for devils?

Where is my wood? My contract provides I be supplied with all my firewood. I am waiting since November for a stick, and even in November I had to show my frostbitten hands like some London beggar!

I regard that six pound as part of my salary. I am paid little enough without I spend six pound on firewood.

The salary is sixty-six pound, Mr. Proctor! I am not some preaching farmer with a book under my arm; I am a graduate of Harvard College.

Mr. Corey, you will look far for a man of my kind at sixty pounds a year! I am not used to this poverty; I left a thrifty business in the Barbados to serve the Lord. I do not fathom it, why am I persecuted here? I cannot offer one proposition but there be a howling riot of argument. I have often wondered if the Devil be in it somewhere; I cannot understand you people otherwise.

PROCTOR: Mr. Parris, you are the first minister ever did demand the deed to this house. PARRIS: Man! Don’t a minister deserve a house to live in? PROCTOR: To live in, yes. But to ask ownership is like you shall own the meeting house itself; the last meeting I were at you spoke so long on deeds and mortgages I thought it were an auction.

I do not wish to be put out like the cat whenever some majority feels the whim.

You people seem not to comprehend that a minister is the Lord’s man in the parish; a minister is not to be so lightly crossed and contradicted.

There is either obedience or the church will burn like Hell is burning!

There is a party in this church. I am not blind; there is a faction and a party.

PARRIS: Will you look at my daughter, sir? She has tried to leap out the window; we discovered her this morning on the highroad, waving her arms as though she’d fly. HALE: Tries to fly. PUTNAM: She cannot bear to hear the Lord’s name, Mr. Hale; that’s a sure sign of witchcraft afloat.

HALE: When did you compact with the Devil? TITUBA: I don’t compact with no Devil! PARRIS: You will confess yourself or I will take you out and whip you to your death, Tituba! PUTNAM: This woman must be hanged! She must be taken and hanged! TITUBA: No, no, don’t hang Tituba! I tell him I don’t desire to work for him, sir.

Beware this man, Your Excellency, this man is mischief…They’ve come to overthrow the court, sir!

DANFORTH: You are in all respects a Gospel Christian? PROCTOR: I am, sir. PARRIS: Such a Christian that will not come to church but once in a month!

PARRIS: Do you read the Gospel, Mr. Proctor? PROCTOR: I read the Gospel. PARRIS: I think not, or you should surely know that Cain were an upright man, and yet he did kill Abel.

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