How Did Reverend Parris Change in The Crucible?

Reverend Samuel Parris in "The Crucible": A Change Over Time

Reverend Samuel Parris is a major player in Arthur Miller's "The Crucible." At first, he comes off as pretty selfish and paranoid. But as the Salem witch trials roll on, we see him change into someone more complex and maybe even a bit sympathetic. So, how exactly does this guy change? Let’s dive into his motivations, what he does, and how he deals with other folks to get the full picture. By breaking down these changes, we can get a better handle on the play’s big themes and see how mass hysteria messes with people's minds.

What Drives Reverend Parris?

When the curtain rises, Reverend Parris seems all about himself. He wants power and worries a lot about what people think of him. It's kind of sad because he seems more focused on keeping his job and reputation than helping his sick daughter Betty or finding out what's really happening with the witch accusations. Like when Betty gets sick—his first thought is: “Oh no, how’s this gonna make me look?” Not great, right? This is the kind of mindset that sets up his eventual change.

Questioning His Own Choices

As things heat up with the witch trials, Parris starts to think twice about what he's been doing. He realizes his greed and paranoia are not just affecting him—they're hurting others too, especially since Betty’s not getting any better. You can tell he’s got a lot on his mind when you see him talking to people like John Proctor and Reverend Hale. He actually admits he's messed up! Those talks show us a side of Parris that's more thoughtful and less one-note.

Shifts in Relationships

Another big part of Parris’s change is how he deals with Abigail Williams and John Proctor. At first, he sides with Abigail because her claims could cover up his own mistakes. But over time, he starts seeing through her tricks and manipulations during the trials. He even distances himself from her! On the flip side, things between him and John Proctor shift too. Proctor challenges him—calls him out for being greedy—which changes how they interact. These shifts make it clear that Parris is waking up to the consequences of his actions.

The Final Transformation

By the end of "The Crucible," Parris isn’t just some self-serving dude anymore; he’s kind of tragic but also relatable. Once it's obvious that the witch accusations were bogus—and after seeing all that suffering—he understands just how badly he screwed up. He asks for forgiveness and calls himself "a broken minister." That moment hits hard because it shows he knows what he did wrong. We leave with a more rounded view of who he really is.

A Cautionary Tale

In short, Reverend Parris goes through quite the transformation in "The Crucible." From being all about himself to thinking deeply about what he's done—it's quite a journey. This change underscores how dangerous mass hysteria can be and reminds us of what happens when fear runs wild. By looking at these shifts in Parris's character, we get a clearer sense of what the play wants us to learn: unchecked power can destroy lives unless folks take responsibility.

References

• Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. Penguin Classics, 2003.
• Pritchard, R.D., & Karasik, D.P. (2007). Understanding The Crucible: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents.
• Saunders Jr., Charles R.. (2004). Voices from within: Acts of Courage in African American History.
• Blythe, H.E., & Sweet Jr., C.L.. (1987). The Crucible: Politics Pasture Poetics.
• Curtis, T.J.. (2011). Drama Criticism: Criticism of World Drama Since 1945.