The Crucible Parris Character Study

Introduction to Parris Parris is a minister from Salem, who is corrupt and ignorant. His characteristics are not those of a typical minister. His character is important in the play because at the beginning he is the one who discovers his niece Abigail and her friends dancing in the forest. This withheld information causes suspicion about witchcraft in Salem. Throughout the entire play he is extremely egotistical and vain, which we see especially in the final act.

Parris cries over money. This is Parris’ response when he finds out that Abigail has fled from Salem and stolen all of his money. He is crying, but he is more devastated about his money having disappeared than he is about the deaths of innocent people - People he has played a role in condemning. This illustrates just how much of a selfish, horrible and pathetic human being Parris is. This attitude is consistent throughout the play, as we see at the beginning when Parris interrogates Abigail in order to find out if she danced in the woods. He only cares about his own reputation - not Abigail or the fact that she could be practicing witchcraft. Danforth, who is also corrupt and ignorant man, even realises that Parris’ behaviour is pathetic and not that of a minister: ‘Mr Parris, you are a brainless man.’

Parris fears for his life ‘There be a faction here, feeding on that news, and I tell you true, sir, I fear there will be a riot.’ Parris is describing what he believes might happen in Salem. He is once again illustrating how he is paranoid and insecure, and fears more for his own life than anybody else’s. Parris then reveals that a knife was found at his door at that maybe his own life is jeopardy. At the end of the play he hoped that John Proctor would confess to witchcraft because if one confessed then everybody else who was accused of witchcraft will have seemed to have lied and Parris’ life and reputation will be intact Parris does not fear at the end of the play for the integrity of the court, or of the decisions made by the court. He fears instead for his own life. He doesn’t want to face his mistakes

Conclusion Parris is a selfish and a corrupt man. His attitudes and characteristics are very unlike of a typical minister and he cares more about himself than his community. Parris fears for his reputation and his life at the end of the play and pathetically tries to bargain his way out by trying to make Proctor confess that he is involved with Witchcraft. In the end of the play Parris has learned nothing. After Proctor’s speech at why he will not confess he still believes that there is hope by making his wife convince Proctor. He doesn’t feel like that the court has done anything wrong; he doesn’t understand why proctor will not confess.