Other Significant Characters

Other Significant Characters

1. Parris

   • Miller Found nothing particularly redeemable about Parris therefore his depiction of him is nothing better
     • In history he cut a villainous path, and there is very little good to be said for him
   • Greedy
     • It does, sir, it does; and it tells me that a minister may pray to God without he have golden candlesticks upon the altar.
       • I labor the earth from dawn of day to blink of night, and I tell you true, when I look to heaven and see my money glaring at his elbows— it hurt my prayer, sir, it hurt my prayer. I think, sometimes, the man dreams cathedrals, not clapboard meetin’ houses.
     • Mr. Corey, you will look far for a man of my kind at sixty pound a year! I am not used to this poverty; I left a thrifty business in the Barbados to serve the Lord. I do not fathom it, why am I persecuted here?
   • Worried about his reuptation
     • But if you trafficked with spirits in the forest I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it.
     • 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?
   • Provoking Proctor to get hanged
     • Beware this man, Your Excellency, this man is mischief.
       • They’ve come to overthrow the court, sir! This man is
   • Seems to have a change in heart at the end but he is just fearing his life an sad cause he is broke
     • Tonight, when I open my door to leave my house—a dagger clattered to the ground. Silence. Danforth absorbs this. Now Parris cries out: You cannot hang this sort. There is danger for me. I dare not step outside at night!
     • Thirty-one pound is gone. I am penniless. He covers his face and sobs

2. Goody Proctor

   • She is cool, upright and composded. This also leads to her downfall
   • She does not trust John
     • John, if it were not Abigail that you must go to hurt, would you falter now? I think not.
     • I cannot speak but I am doubted, every moment judged for lies, as though I come into a court when I come into this house!
   • She is hurt by john and unable to forgive him, she claims that john has to forgive himself
     • : I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you. I never thought you but a good man, John—with a smile— only somewhat bewildered
     • I would have your forgiveness, Elizabeth. ELIZABETH: It is not for me to give, John, I am—
     • : John, it come to naught that I should forgive you, if you’ll not forgive yourself
   • In the end she takes some of the blame as well
     • I have read my heart this three month, John. Pause. I have sins of my own to count. It needs a cold wife to prompt lechery.
     • John, I counted myself so plain, so poorly made, no honest love could come to me! Suspicion kissed you when I did; I never knew how I should say my love. It were a cold house I kept

3. Rebecca Nurse

   • Though Rebecca has the least amount of stage time, she is a prominent character because of the morals she represents
     • It’s strange how I knew you, but I suppose you look as such a good soul should. We have all heard of your great charities in Beverly." (Act 1, p. 34)
     • “I have eleven children, and I am twenty-six times a grandma, and I have seen them all through their silly seasons, and when it come on them they will run the Devil bowlegged keeping up with their mischief.” (Act 1, p. 25)
   • There is some friction between Nurses and the Putnams due to her husband stopping Putnams candidate for the ministry
     • "another suggestion to explain the systematic campaign again Rebeca and inferentially against Francis, is the land war he fought with his neighbours
   • As for Rebecca herself, the eneral opinion of her character was so hight that to explain how anyone dared cary her out for a witch - and more, how adults could bring themselves to lay hands on her - we must look the fields and boundaries of that time
   • She is one of the few women that have power before the witch trials
     • Calmes john
     • “Let Rebecca stand upon the gibbet and send up some righteous prayer, and I fear she’ll wake a vengeance upon you” (Act 4, p. 118).
     • “My wife is the very brick and mortar of the church” Act 2, p. 67)
     • [I]f Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then nothing’s left to stop the whole green world from burning.” (Act 2, p.67)
   • Rebecca is honest
     • “Why, it is a lie, it is a lie; how may I damn myself? I cannot, I cannot.” (Act 4, p. 129)
       • referring back to mary warren said but unlike her she can't tell a lie