Reverend Parris’s Fight for Control of the Puritans in John Proctor The Crucible

As the leader of the church, Parris can influence the puritans to believe his every word, which prevents the puritans from being independent. Parris uses this control to keep people in the church and progress with the witch hunts. When Hale came to town he had spread the fear that "the devil is alive in Salem" (Miller 68). Although puritans want to follow the church, they wanted to get rid of the impurities within their community and end the fear. Taking any part in witchcraft would be considered evil and would result in death by church law. Parris uses that fear to keep the people of Salem under control.

There was one man that wasn't under control, John Proctor. John Proctor was a well known "farmer in his middle thirties" (Miller 19). He believed witchcraft was unreal and since Proctor didn't believe, he became an independent power. Proctor showed no belief in witchcraft, because there was no real proof. Some innocent puritans may have "confessed" (Miller 29) to their charges, but to avoid being hung. When Proctor tried to keep his own power and independence Parris became intimidated. If Parris couldn't control Proctor, than Proctor had the ability to influence other "followers" (Miller 29) to create a difference in power.

Abigail was a supposed witch influenced by Proctor, but not by his independence. They had committed a sin, adultery. Hale told Parris of their sin as proof of Proctors disloyalty. This proof would help to reach Parris' goal of exterminating the extended power of Proctor. Abigail loved Proctor and “. . . drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor" (Miller 18). Abigail wanted Proctor for herself but she could not do this alone, she needed help. Abigail and the other girls created a web of lies in the court to attain their dreams. As their lies grew bigger they gained "authority" (Miller 29) as officials of the court.

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Proctor's independence was intact until he told the court of Abigail and the other girl's lies. He did this to not only free his wife from her conviction but to end the conviction of other innocent people. Proctor has freed his wife, but to keep one of the only people close to him. Proctor forcefully used Abigail as proof of the web of lies, which shines a light on Danforth to realize what has become of his court. Parris believes this is a weakness when Proctor is so desperate he would harm Abigail to spit out the truth. Proctor does this believing that innocent people won't be accused of witchcraft. His independence began to break when Parris attacked Proctor with the allegations of being' "... in the devil's grip" (Miller 37). These allegations were concluded from the supposed proof that Hale brought to Parris.

Parris believes: "There is a faction sworn to drive me from my pulpit" (Miller 10). As minister of the church he wants to abuse his authority in any way to drive the evil out of Salem. He uses Hale as a tool to point out Satan's employees in Salem to create his own Utopia. Although, if he wants to control his people he must exterminate the extended powers like John Proctor and his independence. In order to exterminate Proctor, Parris uses Hale to find proof of his disloyalty to god. Hale uses his knowledge: "... to add what I may to the godly wisdom of the court" (Miller 64). Hale asks things like if the Proctor couple can recite the Ten "Commandments" (Miller 63). Proctor was not able to complete the commandments, because he was ashamed of the commandment he had broken. Thou shall not commit adultery.

Parris wants to use this weakness to reveal the non-existent truth about Proctor's evil. He exploits Elizabeth Proctor and Mary Warren, because they are closest people to Proctor. So Parris will bend Elizabeth and Mary's convictions to Proctor's breaking point. Elizabeth and Mary have already been accused to have "... trafficked with the devil" (Miller 61). Parris wants Proctor to confess to his sins and take the punishment. To relieve the women and finish what Parris and Hale started. By exterminating the extended power that John Proctor threatened Parris' dictatorship with.

It is only now that Hale realizes what he has been used to do to Proctor and the society. He has given Proctor an expiration date and killed many other innocent people to Parris' benefit. It is only on the gibbet that Proctor really showed a weakness. Proctor believed living in sin any further would bring his name to shame. Hale is the first to realize that not only the church is corrupt, but Parris abused his power. Hale tried to stop the hanging of Proctor, because all he came to do was protect the innocent and condemn the evil. Since Parris finished his task to kill Proctor he would be considered the reverend of the law. Proctor was able to successfully show that Parris was a power that needed to be broken down. Proctor successfully gained the control he so rightfully deserved, even from the grave.

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