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Brooklyn Burmeister

Mrs. Malm

Accelerated English III, Period 3

30 September 2009

A Man’s Reputation (The Reputation of Mankind)

John Dryden, an English dramatist, said, “I am resolved to grow fat and

look young till forty, and then slip out to the world with the first wrinkle and

the reputation of five-and-twenty” (Bartlett 275). This attitude to keep a

perfect reputation appears in a drama by playwright Arthur Miller. Salem

farmer John Proctor acts to protect his reputation in Miller’s tragedy The

Crucible.

In fact, a method Proctor uses to protect his reputation is by

disassociating himself with the community. One way he separates himself is

by not going to church. Proctor blames his absence on the self-absorbed

Reverend Samuel Parris by stating to Deputy Governor Danforth, the

presiding judge, “I have no love for Mr. Parris. It is no secret. But God I

surely love” (Miller 90). Additionally, John and his wife Elizabeth Proctor also

discuss that they are skeptical about all of the so-called witchcraft. It is in

this way that they stay sane throughout most of the trouble in Salem. They

steer clear of the village and its tribulations. Since Proctor does not want to

be involved in any of the witch hype, he also tries to avoid the trials. Proctor

wants nothing to do with the witch accusations. By separating himself from

the community, Proctor attempts to protect his own reputation.

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In addition, Proctor protects his reputation when he waits to tell the

court of teenager Abigail Williams’ deception. Given that he does not want

to be a part of the trials, he also does not want to go to the court and tell

Danforth about Abigail’s lies. Still, Proctor wants the court to know that

Abigail has been fibbing about the witch accusations. He tells the minister

from Beverly the Reverend John Hale privately that he cannot prove Abigail’s

deception, but he knows that the children’s sickness had nothing to do with

witchcraft. Proctor knows that if he goes to court to tell of his knowledge, he

will also end up exposing his lechery with Abigail. Finally, Proctor takes a

chance and talks to Danforth. It comes to pass that he must reveal his

adultery so that the lives of many may be saved. To try and prove he is not

lying about his lechery, Proctor declares, “A man will not cast away his good

name. You surely know that” (Miller 110). Proctor hoped that he could have

waited and not given his confession, but his plan did not work out. Proctor

tries, with no prevail, to hide what he knows about Abigail, because he wants

to save his own name.

A third example of Proctor protecting his reputation is when he would

rather die with dignity than lose his good reputation. He does not want his

false confession nailed to the church door for everyone to see. Proctor also

does not wish his name tarnished. “I have given you my soul; leave me my

name!” Proctor pleads to Danforth (Miller 143). He does not like the idea of

signing his name to a lie. Goody Proctor supports her husband and tells Hale

that Proctor has his integrity and she will not take it away from him by trying
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to convince him to change his mind. A false admission by Proctor would

dishonor himself, so he chooses not to surrender. He decided he would

rather his life be over. Proctor was not going to ruin his reputation and good

name.

John Proctor constantly acts to protect his reputation in Arthur Miller’s

The Crucible. This attitude frequently appears in other characters

throughout the tragedy. The idea to “slip out of this world with the first

wrinkle” is desired by many, for practically everyone wants to maintain a

good reputation (Bartlett 275).

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Works Cited

Bartlett, John. “Dryden, John.” Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations. 1955 ed.

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York: Penguin Books, Inc., 1982