The Crucible // Reverend Parris
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Reverend Parris is the minister of Salem’s church. Priests are generally viewed as honest and just, however, Parris is only concerned about his own reputation. When his daughter is sick on the bed, he immediately sought Abigail, saying
“Now look you, child, your punishment will come in its time. But if you trafficked with spirits in the forest I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it.” (Miller 10)
Parris only cares about this matter because he is afraid his “enemies” will use Abigail’s action against him and ruin his reputation. He is not even trying to pretend to care for his daughter’s health and safety. Fear of his position being jeopardized, he goes on emphasizing
“Abigail, I have sought here three long years to bend these stiff-necked people to me, and now, just now when some good respect is rising for me in the parish, you compromise my very character.” (Miller 11)
He blames Abigail, and indirectly his sick daughter, for tainting his social status. In town, Parris is viewed as a well-respected man, but he is clearly selfish and doesn’t deem his daughter’s well-being important. He puts himself before his daughter, his community. He clearly doesn’t live up to his title “Reverend”. His greediness and selfishness make him hypocritical as a priest.
U.S. Nuclear Weapons Double Standard
Hypocrisy is to preach one thing, and does another. United States often lectures the world on the virtues of nuclear non-proliferation. However, they are the one who possesses nearly 10,000 nuclear weapons, all capable of mass destruction. While they deem peace as crucial of their own interest, they’re the number one exporter of advanced weapons.
“In FY 2001, the United States sold nearly $13.9 billion worth of weapons, to foreign governments — and licensed nearly $30 billion in commercial arms sales.”
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Despite setting up numerous nuclear policies to prevent the use of nuclear weapons, the United States continues to have very close relations with key nations that have refused to sign the nuclear nonproliferation treaty. India, Pakistan and Israel are widely known to possess nuclear military equipment, but U.S. did not punish them. Instead, U.S. is determined to intimidate nations, such as Iran and Iraq, which have nuclear ambition but no nuclear weapons yet. These actions demonstrate double standard, where the country claims to support a principle but doesn’t follow through.
Conclusion
In The Crucible, Reverend Parris, as the priest of Salem, should have high moral standard. In truth, he only cares about his good name, and even put his selfish concern before his daughter’s life. This is similar to the U.S.’s opinion on nuclear weapons, where they advocate for peace, but possesses an abundant of arsenal themselves.
“U.S. Nuclear Policy: Full of Double Standards?” The Globalist, 17 Jan. 2003, www.theglobalist.com/u-s-nuclear-policy-full-of-double-standards/.