Stage Actors
The word Hypocrite means “stage actors” in Greek, Stage actors’ actions and behaviors are only presented to the public for entertainment and amusement, but they behave in accordance to what they act on stage. This is exactly like how hypocrites behave, In The Crucible, Arthur Miller uses Reverend Parris’s different behaviors based on different seniors to represent his hypocrisy.
(Behind the masks. Figure 1.0)
Mask-off
PARRIS. I cannot blink what I saw, Abigail, for my enemies will not blink it. I saw a dress lying on the grass.
ABIGAIL, innocently: A dress?
PARRIS, it is very hard to say: Aye, a dress. And I thought I saw–someone naked running through the trees! (Miller 10)
In Act one, Parris claimed that he saw the girls were running nakedly in the woods, Parris would never declare such things regarding his reputation in Salem, however, this conversation is between Parris and his niece Abigail Williams. He is less cautious, less conservative in front of Abigail, she is who the minister of Salem can talk to without wearing a heavy, tight mask. Parris even declared that his primary concern is his own reputation, that his enemies will ruin him with the witchcraft scandal in his house.
Later on, in Act Three, Parris is publicly asked in court if he has seen the girls dancing nakedly in the woods, he said he never saw them naked, but he confirms that the girls have danced.
Mask-on
PARRIS. I do not, sit, but I never saw any of them naked.
DANFORTH. But she has danced?
PARRIS, unwillingly. Aye, sir.
This shows how Parris’s behavior differ based on different scenarios, he wears his mask back in the testimony regarding his reputation, despite knowing things will aggravate, he still chose to protect his own reputation. This is hypocrites, people with vindictive nature that wears a happy, caring mask.
Hello Anderson
I do agree that hypocrites are people who wear a mask, acting out of accordance to what they say. Hypocrites create a fake persona of themselves in public, while in private they act and say different things in public. I agree with your comparison of hypocrites and stage actors, a great analogy to the personalities and characteristics of hypocrites. I also wonder are there any historical figures, movie characters that are hypocrites, who possess the same traits as these “stage actors”.
Hi Anderson, from reading your blog post I realized how big of a hypocrite Parris is. I think that your idea of using two different scenes with mask on and mask off in Reverend Parris’s dialogue to demonstrate him contradicting what he had said earlier in the play to depict his hypocritical personality. I also find it interesting how you were able to connect to him being a hypocrite to his goal of protecting his position in the village. From my understanding of the Crucible Parris was also trying to help his daughter who fell ill, do you think that he was only aiding her for his reputation or because he really wanted her safe?
Hi, Anderson, thanks for you post. I really like how you use “Mask On” and “Mask Off” as the metaphor to describe Rev. Parris’ lies, together with the diagram provided it gives me a better understanding and imagination of the scenario. But I wondered if photography were invented and there was digital footage of what happened on that night will there be a difference in the court’s decision, what do you think?