! In the crucible, the theme of reputation can be found at all corners. The citizens of Salem frequently fear for their public image because the word spreads fast and ruin their name. The first Act demonstrated this theme clearly when Reverend Parris who does not want his daughter Betty’s condition to be linked with witchcraft. He also fears that his niece, Abigail Williams, will create chaos within the whole situation since her name is rumored to being involved with witchcraft. As you read, you can feel that sometimes he feels a little more worried about his power and authority than he is about his own daughter. His fear resulted in him lying about the night in the woods with Betty and Abigail, in which they were accused of witchcraft despite the of proven evidence. One of the main characters, John Proctor, struggled throughout the play to defend his name. He knew that Abigail Williams had accused his wife, Elizabeth, of witchcraft because she saw that she was in the way of her relationship with Proctor. During the court trails, Proctor doesn’t immediately admit to his affair with Abigail due to his fear
that his name will be ruined since adultery is considered a sin. In act four, Proctor’s desire to keep his