Reverend Parris, John Proctor and Abigail Williams demonstrated their priorities in not damaging their reputation through threatening those close to them and trying to make the best decision for their future in the community due to a fear of the sin tainting their names. During a conversation written by Miller, Parris says “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. I have given you a home child, I have put clothes upon your back-- now give me an upright answer. Your name in the town--it is entirely white, is it not?” (Miller, 11). Parris is currently speaking to his niece, Abigail Williams, when …show more content…
Miller writes as Abigail as says “She is blackening my name in the village! She is telling lies about me! She is a cold, sniveling woman, and you bend to her! Let her turn you like a—” (Miller, 22). Abigail is attempting to convince Porter to be in a relationship with her by saying that his wife is ruining Abigail’s reputation in the village. Constantakis writes “Paradoxically, though on the surface he has lost his public good name by open admission of his adultery, he has gained something far more precious: his conviction of his inherent goodness and truthfulness” (Constantakis, 33) As a result of the trials, John Proctor had acquired a reputation based on his affair with Abigail but people began to realize the type of person he was on the …show more content…
Miller writes “As for Rebecca herself, the general opinion of her character was so high that to explain how anyone dared cry her out for a witch—and more how adults could bring themselves to lay hands on her” (Miller, 24). Rebecca was a woman in the Salem community that was very sensible and left in high regard and it was a shock to many that she was under accusation for the charges in the trial. Constantakis describes Rebecca Nurse as “an elderly woman who enjoys great respect in Salem society. Rebecca is a wise and pious woman who, along with John Proctor, is the voice of reason in the film…. She is proved right about this and everything else on which she expresses a view” (Constantakis). In the community of Salem, Rebecca’s reputation is one of wisdom and respect and she is someone that usually isn’t questioned or proven wrong for her ideas. Curtis states “Only Rebecca Nurse is able to declare that there is no witch-craft here, that "she'll wake when she tires of it". But Goody Nurse herself carries such an impressive burden of innocence, of positive goodness, that it is hard to say that she is simply giving a rational explanation” (Curtis). While Rebecca was a character exhibiting a good reputation, there was some speculation of if what she was saying was