DANFORTH: Do you deny it, Mr. Parris?
PARRIS: I do not, sire, but I never saw any of them naked. (Miller, 98)
That was an excerpt in which Reverend Parris of the town Salem lies through his teeth to who was supposed to be the person with the greatest authority in order to preserve his reputation, his image, his power, and his status. His fear of actually losing all those things are far greater than his fear for his actual daughter and niece, and he is definitely more than willing to maybe, just maybe, bend his morals and personal guidelines, the same standards that are actually giving him his power, just so he could continue to maintain it.
The contradictions in Parris’ actions are fascinating on a lot of levels – he craves power and status, yet the identity given to him is supposed to be one who is humble and living off necessities only. He asks Abigail to tell him the truth about her actions and the events of the Ritualistic Dance, yet he himself lies just like his niece did.
Furthermore, Parris, like other authority figures, dislikes challenges. They look at anything, even if they’re genuine concerns towards the wrongdoings of the authorities themselves, as potential threats that could topple the power that they couldn’t live without. Even Mary Warren, a subservient girl, quickly becomes willing to lie about her experiences and ‘traumas’ if that meant her opinion and ideas would be trusted and respected, even starting to stand up to John Proctor, her employer, after such acts.
MARY WARREN, with a stamp of her foot: I’ll not be ordered to be no more, Mr. Proctor! (Miller, 57)
This reminds me of the saying by John Dalberg-Acton, who stated:
Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
The author seems to be making a statement and thematic connection in the novel between the characters and their actions. Absolute authority and blind belief only gives more power to a side than the other, and even if those with power are supposedly following a religion or a guideline of ‘moral causes’, those with power tend to misuse it, especially when they’re under an authoritative environment (like Abigail) that threatens people with punishments. That’s exactly what Parris fears: he fears that he would lose his status, that Proctor and others would overthrow him, so of course, he would be on the side against them.
I suppose that ultimately, Parris’ fate is only justified. The hypocrisy of his actions ends with a paradox – his attempts to maintain power results in him losing his money and his trust by the villagers. Those who may have lived by their morals or confronted their past may have died, but Miller and the novel argued that these deaths, while tragic, are righteous deaths and that those who died for the truth has found salvation in themselves rather than giving in to lies.
HATHORNE, astonished: She have robbed you?
PARRIS: Thirty-one pound is gone. I Am penniless. He covers his face and sobs. (Miller, 117)
Citations:
- “Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Dictionary, 2019. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/power-tends-to-corrupt-absolute-power-corrupts-absolutely.
- Miller, Arthur. “The Crucible.” New York, Penguin Classics, 2003.
- “The Crucible Project – Reverend Parris.” Youtube, uploaded by Sarah Johnson, 16 Oct. 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-bWkvIE6Rw