Character Study of Reverend Parris in The Crucible

Character Study of Reverend Parris in The Crucible Reverend Parris, a character in  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹Ã¢â‚¬â€¹The Crucible play by Arthur Miller is considered to be despicable in many ways. This town preacher believes himself to be a pious man. In truth, he thirsts for power, land, and material possessions. Many of his parishioners, including the Proctor family, have stopped attending church on a regular basis. His sermons of hellfire and damnation have shunned many of Salem’s residents. Because of his unpopularity, he feels persecuted by many of the citizens of Salem. However, many residents, such as Mr. and Mrs. Putnam, favor Rev. Parris harsh sense of spiritual authority. He often bases his decisions off of self-interest, though he camouflages his actions with a faà §ade of holiness. For example, he once wanted his church to have gold candlesticks. Therefore, according to ​John Proctor, the Reverend preached only about the candlesticks until he attained them. In addition, Proctor mentions that Salems previous ministers never owned property. Parris, on the other hand, demands to have the deed of his home. He fears that the residents might cast him out of the town, and he, therefore, wants an official claim to his property. It is no coincidence that he considered all of the defendants enemies long before they were accused of witchcraft. He becomes even more pathetic during the play’s resolution. He wants to save John Proctor from the hangman’s noose, but only because he worries the town may rise against him and perhaps kill him in retaliation. Even after Abigail steals his money and runs away, he never admits fault, making his character all the more frustrating to behold.