Reverend Parris

Reverend Parris

1. Summary

   • Parris is the reverend of the church and the first impression is that ‘there is very little good’ to say about him.
   • At first the audience might sympathize with him but then they quickly realize that Parris is just worried about his reputation.
   • Miller could be using Parris to reflect the restrictive society and how he reinforces this restriction, and fear that the people have by using religion to scare people.
   • Parris is a symbol of religion, thus his character could reflect the restrictive nature of religion as it has been used to scare individuals, thus religion can also be used as a form of control.

2. Quotes

   • Page 19 - " There is a faction that is sworn to drive me from my pulpit"
     • He is paranoid as he is already a man with many enemies and he knows that this dislike will worsen as his family are at the centre of the disruption. It shows has has more concern for his reputation than his daughter.
   • Page 20 - "I have fought here 3 long years to bend these stiff-necked people to me"
     • Shows arrogance as if he is trying to get others to put him at the centre of the community instead of God. He wants to keep his reputation to keep his job and power.
   • Page 25 - " There is a terrible power in her arms today"
     • He means physical power but it also refers to the power she has to disrupt the whole community in later events. She is inflicted with the Devil's power, the power of witchcraft and also holds the power of life and death over the many who will be tried as witches as a result of the lies she tells.
   • Page 34 (Proctor) - " Mr Parris, you are the first minister ever did demand the deed to this house"
     • Sees as hypocritical as he is a minister so should be all about God, yet he wants to own the church (the house of God).
   • Page 94 - "I can only say, sir, that I never found any of them naked, and this man is-"
     • His spineless selfishness once again when he perjures (intentionally lies in court) himself. He tells the court that he saw no naked dancing in the woods, yet we know that he did, because he says as much to Abigail.
   • Page 122 - “Tonight, when I open my door to leave my house - a dagger clattered to the ground... You cannot hang his sort. There is a dagger for me. I dare not step out at night!”
     • At first it seems like he may have come to his senses, because he's asking Danforth to postpone the hangings. Abigail has flown the coop, making it pretty darn obvious she was lying the whole time. It turns out that Parris isn't pleading out of remorse at all, though; he's only concerned for his own life. He found a dagger in his front door, and is afraid that if respectable citizens like John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse are hanged, the town will revolt.
   • Page 116 - “If you desire a cup of cider, Mr Proctor, I am sure I-“
     • Parris’ attempt to be kind to Proctor here comes across less as genuine remorse and more sniveling attempt to ingratiate himself with a man he has wronged as he now fears for his life. At this point we can clearly contrast Parris with Hale who both believed in witchcraft at the start of the play. Hale appears to have realized his mistake and seen the error of his ways … Parris on the other hand, fearing for his life, seems to be simply trying to please everybody to avert disaster.