In
Salem, reputation is important. There is really no differentiation between the
public and private standards. In the Crucible, the people of Salem fear that
the sinners they are associated with will give them a bad name. For instance,
when Parris notices some potentially witchcraft involved in his daughters coma,
he is worried about his reputation. Later, we see that John Proctor is also
trying to protect his reputation when he chooses not to testify against
Abigail. However, in the end, John Proctor ends up being put to death because
he will not sign his name to a false statement. Basically, protecting his
reputation is what killed John Proctor in the end. Everyone in Salem was
worried about how people felt about them and judged them. It kept several
people quiet about what was really going on. But is lying really any better
than having a bad reputation because you told the truth?
Salem is a place that has a mind of its own. You are right on the money when you say there is not difference between the public and private standards. During this time if the people of Salem think you are a witch, than you are going to die. Even during this time people are worried about their reputation as you stated in your reading. In the end John proctor ends up being put to death because he will not sign his name to a false statement. I think that is very noble of John to do, as most people would have just signed the paper and moved on with their lives. Over all good blog post.
ReplyDeleteIt is because of salems inability to realize that while your reputation is all you have, forsaking your conscience to keep what is in your mind what "gods view" of you should be, is not what the holy father wanted at all. If one were to justify those actions, just look at what the crusaders did! To abandon moral judgment and sin in the name of god will not wipe out other sin. Much like by lying to cover things up or making up stories to explain things for the sake of ones, "good name" to be good with the community and god is insane.
ReplyDeleteIt appears that at the time of the witch trials Salem was a very uneasy, confusing place to be. People of the town including religious leaders resorted to lying to save their reputations. The fear of witchcraft and witches caused a great deal distrust among the towns people. The Puritans had hoped to gain religious freedom. Instead what happened is many people were put to death out of fear and people being paranoid.
ReplyDeletePracticing their religious beliefs with a strong leader could have given them the religious freedom they longed for. Instead it tore the town apart because of peple fearing the reputations being ruined.