Endeavors to Protect one’s Reputation: A Reflection on the Play the Crucible by Arthur Miller

Endeavors to Protect One’s Reputation:

A Reflection on the Play The Crucible by Arthur Miller

Starting from the late 15th century into the late 18th century a wave of prosecution flowed over parts of Europe. Tens of thousands of people were executed, hanged, or burned at the stake for witchcraft. Starting in the spring of 1692, the cry of witchery was heard throughout the colonial town of Salem, Massachusetts. While only 24 people of the town died, hundreds of others were accused due to mass hysteria and influenced thinking. These many people faced prosecution of their good reputations in the town, and hence many tried to do what they could to save their reputations and their good names. Throughout the play, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, many characters, including Giles Corey, Judge Danforth, and John Proctor, all try to protect their reputations after being accused of witchery.

Firstly sometimes the best place to save your reputation is the say nothing at all. Giles Corey is a great example of this, he decided not to say that he was a witch nor do tonight that he wants one. This led him to be pressed to death. However also tried to save other people's reputation when Judge Danforth tried to get him to tell the name of who gave him the information about Mr. Putnam and his daughter. On pages 96 to 97, he says “I – I cannot give you his name… He’ll lay in jail if I give his name.“ (Miller, 96-97). Also on page 95, it is mentioned that Giles has a very extensive history in the courts and that he is very experienced in the court of law. Therefore, Giles now how to save his reputation and to die a good Christian in the name of the law. so, when on page 135 Elizabeth Proctor mentions that he was pressed to death and that his last words were “more weight” that he had neither confessed nor denied to being a witch and would forever be a good Christian in the name of the law (Miller, 135).

Secondly, some people say stubborn and try to keep the reputations alive as to how they were previously. Judge Danforth is a high court judge in the town and was summoned to help weed out all of the witches of the town of Salem. In the book, he states “this is the highest court of the supreme government…” (Miller, 85-86). And to keep his reputation as a high court judge alive he would do anything to do his job well and get the ‘evidence’ that he needs. In the play when Giles does not give up the names that Judge Danforth needs to successfully convict someone of being a witch Danforth then mocks him and says “Oh, it is a proper lawyer! Do you wish to declare the court info session here? Or will you give me good reply?” (Miller, 97). This can be seen as Danforth’s person feel and stubbornness