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The Crucible by Arthur Miller is about people being accused of witchcraft and being hanged) as punishment. This book has many themes throughout the story, but one theme that is repeated is reputation. Salem community reputation is very important to them because they felt that they needed to be accepted by society in order to have a successful life. But, many do everything to uphold their name. Some of the characters in the book take

it to extremes, like Reverend Parris, John Proctor and Abigail Williams. Be a little more

specific; what do you mean by extremes?

Reverend Parris is one of the great examples exhibiting the theme. "Let him look to

medicine and put out all of thought of unnatural cause here. There be none.", page 38 this is an

example on his opinion about "normal". Why is he so afraid of unnatural causes? He

wants to protect his reputation. He is so fixed on having the perfect life and to live up to

that he is willing to sacrifice the love from his family. Parris doesn't want to let anyone

see him weak, and vote him out of Minister of Salem, he already has the respect and

dignity of the townspeople slipping, and to let them learn of his mistakes and secrets

would taint his good name. Reverend will try anything to become "normal" in the eyes of

Salem. Good analysis.

The second character John Proctor shows the biggest sacrifice for his "good name".

"God in Heaven, what is John Proctor, what is John Proctor? ... I think it is honest, I think so;

I am no saint. ... let Rebecca go like a saint; for me it is a fraud!" (138)., this is the part in the book where John sacrifices his

life to let his name be cleared and be kept good from his past mistakes. Proctor was a

gentle and good man, but he committed adultery, and his mistress is running around Salem telling their tale. Instead of living and have his name tainted, he decides to be

hung hanged to clear his name, and his children, and be known as a good man, rather

than an adulterer.

The final character Abigail Williams has a love affair with a married man, John

Proctor, but that isn't the only thing that is known about her; she is a liar and

manipulates people throughout the town. She finally hears rumors about herself from

Proctor's wife, " My name is good in the village! I will not have it said my name is

soiled". pg 75. From this she starts manipulates her situation and tries to clear her name,

blaming it on witchcraft. Clearly Abigail is trying to keep her name out of all the rumors

and get the respect from her fellow peers again.

In conclusion, reputation was a big part of the Salem society. Many people risk and

sacrifices greatly to keep there good name. Even now in the 21st century there are

many out there willing to do anything for the acceptation of peers and to have the best,

or "coolest" reputation.