He even gets mad at her, saying that he “will not have [her] susp[ect] any more” (Miller, 54). To stop the reminders his wife gives him of his infidelity, he upbraids her. Elizabeth becomes the innocent victim of Proctor’s wrongdoing. Guilt affects others, not only the sinners. Furthermore, Proctor is guilty of dishonesty because he is the only person who knows that Abigail’s allegations of witchcraft are fraudulent but he is too afraid for his reputation to tell the truth and risk exposing his adultery.
Abigail's insufficient set of morals allow her to pursue her mission regardless of the repercussions on innocent people in town. The religious belief in Salem pronounces the trials as a holy cause, and those involved with accusing become a hero. It is believed that one person can start a chain reaction and when the actions involve others the results can be treacherous. The entire town of Salem turns on itself because lustful people want what they couldn’t have. Practical people begin to discover the motives behind the accusers; and several people stand up against this horrific turn of events.
Parris feared that Abigail’s increasingly questionable actions and the hints of witchcraft surrounding his daughter’s coma will threaten his reputation and force him from the pulpit. “Abigail, I have fought here three long years to bend these stiff-necked people to me, and now, just now when some good respect is rising for me in the parish, you compromise my very character.”(12) His pride makes him cover up the truth about what he saw in the woods. Parris could have said something about what the girls where doing so people would not have assumed that the girls’ sickness was due to witchcraft. John Proctor also wanted to keep his good name from being destroyed. Early in the play, he had a chance to put a stop to the girls’ accusations, but his desire to preserve his reputation keeps him from testifying against Abigail.
The society has been swept away by religion since they do not criticize Meursault because of his direct involvement in the murder but they despise him because of other issues. The society conflicts with Meursault because during the burial of her mother, it is claimed that he never showed emotions or any form of depression. He is also said to have made sex with Marie the following day after they attended in a Fernandel comedy and this made things more controversial. The prosecutor judges him by saying that, “…all I see is a monster.” I think that religion had eroded
His fickle favor toward his servants, and not to mention his family, proves his inconsistency and instability. Although appointed by the gods, his reign has exposed the abused and misused privilege of representing the gods in his earthly position. King Creon’s irrational edict stated that any man who dares to bury Polyneices would suffer death by stoning. Is it a mere human’s prerogative to determine another man’s eternal fate? Because Antigone had nothing left to live for, while knowing the sentence of stoning, Antigone defied King Creon’s edict in order to fulfill her duty.
He was so quick to blow off the idea that witchcraft caused her sickness because he was too worried his reputation would get shot with that possibility. In the court while Mary was being questioned about fainting Paris was looking for the first chance to accuse her of witchcraft and he eagerly said, "Then you will confess, will you not?" Mary Warren had no relation to Paris therefore he would not hesitate to point his finger at her. Paris was like Danforth in that he also could not realize his hypocritical ways because of his
Reverend Hale, who enters Salem Naïve and convinced of his greatness in discerning spirits, realizes he has cause irreparable damage. In order to right one of his many wrongs, he wishes for Elizabeth Proctor to convince John Proctor to sign a false confession in order to save his life. John Proctor stated a quoted, “I speak my own sins. I cannot judge another. I have no tongue for it.” Proctor confesses to witchcraft yet refuses to incriminate others.
He asks Reverend Hale to resolve his curiosity about what his wife Martha might be reading behind his back, but instead rouses the town’s suspicion of Martha being a witch. He says to Hale, “I never said my wife were a witch, Mr. Hale; I only said she were reading books!” (71). Giles feels guilt for being responsible for his wife’s imprisonment and tries to defend her in court. Consequently, Giles refuse to give the name of the man who can substantiate his claim that Putnam is killing his neighbors for their land. If he gives the name, he would have to take on the guilt of selling out his friend.
Although his wife, Elizabeth Proctor is nice enough that can forgive his sin, John Proctor has his mind set that he will not confess to anyone else, in fear of running his good name. The affair between John and Abigail causes the start of chaotic witchery and accusation. Abigail became very jealous of Elizabeth Proctor. John realizes there is only way to stop all the witch hysteria in Salem, and that would be to confess adultery. He knows what he should do, but he continues to deny, until his wife is put into jail.
These works of literature have clear conflicts that revolve around the value of the expectations and aspects of one’s character. In 1692, Salem, Massachusetts was a largely theocratic community. Religion and Law were practically one and the same. From the beginning of The Crucible, Reverend Parris fears that his daughter’s coma and his niece’s, Abigail, suspicious behavior will destroy his reputation and ultimately his career by being associated in any way with witchcraft. “If you trafficked with spirits in the forest, I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it.” (Miller, 11) John Proctor, the protagonist, is under the manipulation of Abigail throughout the play, because he struggles between preserving his reputation or stopping Abigail’s mischief and saving his wife by exposing their secret affair.