What Is The Importance Of Reputation In The Crucible
In The Crucible there are consistent themes of the importance of reputation in society during the Salem Witch Trials. Within the town of Salem women specifically were expected to keep and maintain a good image by their actions, words, etc. Due to the witch trials, women were robbed of their good woman title, and their honor.
Reputation was a key part of society during the time period of the witch trials. Women weren’t seen equal to men, and they had to be held accountable to high standards. In a conversation between Proctor and Parris, Proctor says, “...so many of these women have lived so long with such upright reputation.” (84). Proctor recognizes the reputation, not by rebuking its importance, but by reminding Parris of what is at stake
by ruining an upright reputation of a woman in the town of Salem. Proctor doesn’t want the trials to take away the reputation the women in the town have built up over the years. When these women are being prosecuted and charged for witch craft is causes “disruption is social harmony” (Valente). Within the play women are beyond frustrated, and scared, when being charged “Mary Warren, utterly confounded, and becoming overwhelmed by Abigail’s-and the girls’-utter conviction, starts to whimper, hands half raised, powerless” (108). When a woman loses her reputation of being a woman of God and of good morals, she loses her power thus becoming powerless and weak. The witch trials are alluding to “essentially female weakness” (Valente). Within the sexist society, the reputation of women is more significant than a man’s. The connection between power/strength and a good reputation is shown through the trials. The loss of power and beginning of weakness starts whenever a woman is being mischarged for witch craft.
The idea of being a good woman is brought up multiple times throughout the trials, with many female characters claiming, “I am a good woman!”, and trying to defend their reputation. In Act II, Elizabeth Proctor says, “I am a good woman, I know it.” (66). She is defending her status of being a good woman. This idea continues throughout the play, with multiple characters defending their good reputations. But the witch trials are not the only thing that rob the women of their reputations. Elizabeth’s words and actions throughout the play prove “that she is no good woman.” (Schissel). Elizabeth is hostile in the way she speaks, letting her anger consume her. She let her anger destroy apart of her reputation as a “good woman” and someone who was known for that reputation. The idea of being good was so significant that the character’s names even reflected the idea of being a good woman. Goody Proctor, Goody Hawkins, Goody Booth, etc. all are referred to as good women through their name. But that idea of being “Goody Hawkins” is destroyed when Abigail claims “I saw Goody Hawkins with the Devil!” (46). This title may not be stripped when the claims are made, but the idea of them being these good women with good reputations is stripped from them when they are accused of being with the Devil and committing witch craft. Women like Elizabeth Proctor were raised in a society that valued women’s reputations. “Elizabeth…raised within a Puritan society and a living example of its valued "good woman,"” (Schissel). There was such a high value for good women, especially in the town of Salem. Status was linked with prestige and wisdom. Without the rep of being a good woman (or man), there was little power held in society.
The idea of reputation, while predominantly focused on women, was applicable for all characters to an extent. The main reason John Proctor doesn’t want to admit to his adultery is due to his reputation as a Christian man.
Reputation was a key part of society during the time period of the witch trials. Women weren’t seen equal to men, and they had to be held accountable to high standards. In a conversation between Proctor and Parris, Proctor says, “...so many of these women have lived so long with such upright reputation.” (84). Proctor recognizes the reputation, not by rebuking its importance, but by reminding Parris of what is at stake
by ruining an upright reputation of a woman in the town of Salem. Proctor doesn’t want the trials to take away the reputation the women in the town have built up over the years. When these women are being prosecuted and charged for witch craft is causes “disruption is social harmony” (Valente). Within the play women are beyond frustrated, and scared, when being charged “Mary Warren, utterly confounded, and becoming overwhelmed by Abigail’s-and the girls’-utter conviction, starts to whimper, hands half raised, powerless” (108). When a woman loses her reputation of being a woman of God and of good morals, she loses her power thus becoming powerless and weak. The witch trials are alluding to “essentially female weakness” (Valente). Within the sexist society, the reputation of women is more significant than a man’s. The connection between power/strength and a good reputation is shown through the trials. The loss of power and beginning of weakness starts whenever a woman is being mischarged for witch craft.
The idea of being a good woman is brought up multiple times throughout the trials, with many female characters claiming, “I am a good woman!”, and trying to defend their reputation. In Act II, Elizabeth Proctor says, “I am a good woman, I know it.” (66). She is defending her status of being a good woman. This idea continues throughout the play, with multiple characters defending their good reputations. But the witch trials are not the only thing that rob the women of their reputations. Elizabeth’s words and actions throughout the play prove “that she is no good woman.” (Schissel). Elizabeth is hostile in the way she speaks, letting her anger consume her. She let her anger destroy apart of her reputation as a “good woman” and someone who was known for that reputation. The idea of being good was so significant that the character’s names even reflected the idea of being a good woman. Goody Proctor, Goody Hawkins, Goody Booth, etc. all are referred to as good women through their name. But that idea of being “Goody Hawkins” is destroyed when Abigail claims “I saw Goody Hawkins with the Devil!” (46). This title may not be stripped when the claims are made, but the idea of them being these good women with good reputations is stripped from them when they are accused of being with the Devil and committing witch craft. Women like Elizabeth Proctor were raised in a society that valued women’s reputations. “Elizabeth…raised within a Puritan society and a living example of its valued "good woman,"” (Schissel). There was such a high value for good women, especially in the town of Salem. Status was linked with prestige and wisdom. Without the rep of being a good woman (or man), there was little power held in society.
The idea of reputation, while predominantly focused on women, was applicable for all characters to an extent. The main reason John Proctor doesn’t want to admit to his adultery is due to his reputation as a Christian man.