Dignity and people of salem

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Pride, dignity and reputation are characteristics that are becoming more and more rare in our society. In the play, The Crucible , Arthur Miller powerfully analyzes the theme of personal dignity through the stories of several unusual characters. During the play Miller takes on to focus his themes around traits such as pride, dignity and reputation, as a result, the theme is "Human dignity and moral integrity are more value than life without them". Three characters are reprosented by this theme. John Proctor who would like to be known as the man that always does the right thing; Reverand Parris who is known for being the churchly figure that lives by the bible and its teachings; finally, Deputy Governor Danforth wants to be known as a steadfast judge who always makes the right decisions.
John Proctor is the model citizen. He is a man of persistant, honest, and full of integrity, he was simply a man with pride.

When all is said and done, at the end of the play when john is asked to sign a confession, John refusses, crying out that he would not "Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!" (143). Even when facing death, he will not give into a lie, will not give up his name and refuses to sell out his friends to save his own life. John cannot bring himself to give his name, which enables him to muster the courage to die, heriocally, with his goodness inact. John proctor became a martyr for what he believed was right and prevented furthur injustice and death. One primary motif of The Crucible is the importance of a good name. The mean...

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...s a very narrow form of justice, either right or wrong. When he said "a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it... no uncorrupted man may fear this court." (85) This foreshadows how Proctor will be sentenced, because although he is known as a good man in the town's people eyes, yet Danforth can only see his guilt and his unfaithfullnes to christianity.
He believes in honour, respect and recognition. The court in essence is just a human construct but Danforth places great pride on these human constructs and of doing things for show, which could illustrate his stubbornness when passing judgment. Danforth fails to realize the hysterical conclusions presented to him in the courtroom. Danforth realizes it may be too late to go back on his decisions “I cannot pardon these when twelve have already hanged for the same crime. It is not just." (113)

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