Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Leaders Aren't What They Used to Be

Reverend Parris is a vain and greedy man. He refuses to acknowledge witchcraft and wants to cater to the lying children. In Act One Scene I, Reverend Parris is more concerned about how he can be driven from his pulpit by the "sworn faction." (pg 10) As his own child is "sick" in bed he is lecturing Abigail on how this incident is going to ruin his public image. He keeps referring to the congregation being resistant to his sermons instead of the dire health situation of his daughter Betty. He treats his friends and family very different from the authorities. Throughout Act Four, he is always respectful towards the girls, Reverend Hale, and the Judge but he is always accusing Proctor and every one else of taking down the community's order, aka his congregation and how the people view him now. He is doing everything he can to keep his power through out everything. However it crumbles to dust when the play ends with Abigail and her friend run off with all of the Reverend's earnings. He soon left the priesthood out of shame, because why was a reverend not able to protect his lock box from his own family?

3 comments:

  1. Some would think with Mr. Parris being a minister and all that he would care more about his family and congregation than he would about his own identity. The beginning is kind of ironic because he is "caring" towards his niece. In all reality, it is only himself that he worries about. You are right that Mr. Parris does treat his friends and family different compared to his authorities. What do you think was his most significant change throughout the play? Do you think Mr. Parris could change for the better? It is interesting that the girls took all of the Reverend's earnings. I think it is a representation of how he has treated people with whom he was encountered with on a daily basis.

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  2. I agree with you. I think Parris is more concerned about his reputation than he is anything else. Like Bobbie said, for a being a minister one would think he would care more about other people than he does him self. He is very self centered.

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  3. I agree with you. I think Parris is concerend withe repuation than anything esle. In the beginning he was caring about his daughte when she was sick but toward the end of the book he really only cares about himself. He is a very selfish man.

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