The Crucible
English III
6 November 2012
Integrity
Reputation is the way that other people look at you, while integrity is the way you look at yourself. Many of the characters in the story had to choose to protect their reputation or their integrity. Parris, Abigail, and others chose reputation, while Rebecca and Proctor chose to protect their integrity. If they did show integrity and said they did not make a pact with the devil they were seen as liars and would hang for being witches, but when they confessed they were with the devil they would be put in jail. Parris along with others choose not to have integrity. Those that choose not to have it wanted protect themselves, and were willing to let others be harmed. When Parris 's daughter was almost dead he was concerned about how the girls dancing in the forest naked would, ruin his reputation with the people, and if it would cause him to step down from the pulpit “There is a faction that is sworn to drive me from my pulpit” (Miller). Parris later in the story begged Danforth to suspend the trials, not because he wanted justice, but he feared the townspeople. Many people did not have integrity and choose to confess of doing witchcraft, so they would not die but would forever have a bad name. Others had integrity and would not lie to save their life and keep a good name for themselves. Proctor would not sign the document saying that he committed witchcraft, “because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (Miller). Proctor does die knowing that he has acted with integrity and that his name is still intact. Rebecca also had integrity; Rebecca showed her integrity through believing in God’s will. She believed that a greater judgment is waiting for everyone in heaven. When she was arrested Danforth wanted her to confess she
6 November 2012
Integrity
Reputation is the way that other people look at you, while integrity is the way you look at yourself. Many of the characters in the story had to choose to protect their reputation or their integrity. Parris, Abigail, and others chose reputation, while Rebecca and Proctor chose to protect their integrity. If they did show integrity and said they did not make a pact with the devil they were seen as liars and would hang for being witches, but when they confessed they were with the devil they would be put in jail. Parris along with others choose not to have integrity. Those that choose not to have it wanted protect themselves, and were willing to let others be harmed. When Parris 's daughter was almost dead he was concerned about how the girls dancing in the forest naked would, ruin his reputation with the people, and if it would cause him to step down from the pulpit “There is a faction that is sworn to drive me from my pulpit” (Miller). Parris later in the story begged Danforth to suspend the trials, not because he wanted justice, but he feared the townspeople. Many people did not have integrity and choose to confess of doing witchcraft, so they would not die but would forever have a bad name. Others had integrity and would not lie to save their life and keep a good name for themselves. Proctor would not sign the document saying that he committed witchcraft, “because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (Miller). Proctor does die knowing that he has acted with integrity and that his name is still intact. Rebecca also had integrity; Rebecca showed her integrity through believing in God’s will. She believed that a greater judgment is waiting for everyone in heaven. When she was arrested Danforth wanted her to confess she
Cited: Miller, Arthur. ”The Crucible.” The American Experience. Compiled. Power, Susan, et al. Boston: Prentice Hall, 2007.