Characterization Of Reverend Samuel Parris In "the Crucible"

Characterization of Reverend Samuel Parris in "The Crucible"

Eric Repas

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 Trails 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 daughters 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.

In 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.