Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Does Parris end up as a broken man in The Crucible?

In many ways, yes.  When Reverend Parris first appears in Act Four, "He is gaunt, frightened, and sweating in his greatcoat."  He confesses that none of the convicted will speak to him anymore and that his niece, Abigail Williams, the girl whose actions essentially started the entire hysteria, has run off with all his money.  "Thirty-one pound is gone," he says, "I am penniless.  He covers his face and sobs."  He knows...

In many ways, yes.  When Reverend Parris first appears in Act Four, "He is gaunt, frightened, and sweating in his greatcoat."  He confesses that none of the convicted will speak to him anymore and that his niece, Abigail Williams, the girl whose actions essentially started the entire hysteria, has run off with all his money.  "Thirty-one pound is gone," he says, "I am penniless.  He covers his face and sobs."  He knows that the trials had more to do with revenge and land than they had to do with witchcraft, and it has affected him physically.  He is disrespected by those people whom he had always previously respected, and he must continue to doubt the validity of the proceedings now that Abigail has robbed him and run off.  Even Danforth says, "Mr. Parris, you are a brainless man!"  This line shows how mentally and emotionally broken he has become.


On top of this, Parris is credibly fearful of rebellion now that it is clear that the majority of the community does not support the trials, and -- most especially -- he fears for his own life.  He says, "Tonight, when I open my door to leave my house -- a dagger clattered to the ground [....].  You cannot hang this sort.  There is danger for me.  I dare not step outside at night!"  His guilt, fear, and desperation have changed him dramatically from the once arrogant and certain man he was at the beginning of the play.  He is broken physically, mentally, and spiritually.

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