The Crucible Reputation Essay

In The Crucible, there are consistent themes of the importance of reputation in society during the Salem Witch Trials. Within the town of Salem women specifically were expected to keep and maintain a good image by their actions, words, etc. Due to the witch trials, women were robbed of their good-woman title, and their honor. Within the play, Miller continues to allude to the idea of morals, religion, standards, expectations, all while tying them into one’s reputation. Reputation was a key part of society during the time period of the witch trials. Women weren’t seen equal to men, and they had to be held accountable to high standards. In a conversation between Proctor and Parris, Proctor says, “...so many of these women have lived so long

In Act Two, Elizabeth Proctor says, “I am a good woman, I know it” (Miller, 66). She is defending her status of being a good woman. This idea continues throughout the play, with multiple characters defending their good reputations. However the witch trials are not the only thing that rob the women of their reputations. Elizabeth’s words and actions throughout the play prove, “that she is no good woman” (Schissel). Elizabeth is hostile in the way she speaks, letting her anger consume her. She let her anger destroy apart of her reputation as a “good woman” and someone who was known for that reputation. The idea of being good was so significant that the character’s names even reflected the idea of being a good woman. Women in the town such as Goody Proctor, Goody Hawkins, and Goody Booth are all referred to as good women through their name. But that idea of being, “Goody Hawkins,” is destroyed when Abigail claims, “I saw Goody Hawkins with the Devil!” (Miller, 46). This title may not be stripped when the claims are made, but the idea of them being these good women with good reputations is stripped from them when they are accused of being with the Devil and committing witch craft. Women like Elizabeth Proctor were raised in a society that valued women’s reputations, “Elizabeth…raised within a Puritan

The main reason John Proctor does not want to admit to his adultery is due to his reputation as a Christian man. Religion is a very prominent idea in Salem, and the idea of being a woman or man of God is of essence. Miller creates the idea of man and his image for a reason. He recognizes the essentialness of having an outstanding character in the time period, and the meaningfulness of religion. This theme of, “the relationship between a man’s identity and the image that society demands of him,” is consistent in all of Miller’s plays (Weales). John Proctor is hesitant through the course of the play to confess to his romantic and lustful relationship with the young Abigail Williams, fearing it may damage his image. When he finally admits he calls out to God, “God help me, I lusted!” (Miller, 102). Proctor seems to be the only person in Salem who sees through the girls, and he seems to almost be portrayed the only sane one. The town tries to mold him into this specific model of a man, but it goes against what he thinks and knows to be true, “Salem tries to force John Proctor to accept a particular image of himself, but he chooses to die.” (Weales). The image idea goes hand in hand with reputation, and it goes to show that reputation wasn’t just important for women. Proctor not only revokes the image Salem wants for him, but wishes to show them wrong even after death.