The Crucible Group

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onetwoonetwothreefour
onetwoonetwo...
Student
College - Freshman

What was Samuel Parris’s attitude toward children?

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Posted by onetwoonetwothreefour on Monday March 23, 2009 at 8:33 AM and tagged with characters, samuel parris, the crucible.

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  1. pmiranda2857
    pmiranda2857 Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    Reverend Samuel Parris's attitude toward children is that they should be obedient and respectful and never do anything that will embarrass him or create a black mark on his reputation.

    "He continues to follow public opinion right to the end of the play, when he insists that Proctor's confession must be made publicly in order for it to be effective."

    When he catches the girls dancing in the woods and conjuring spirits, he is worried how the town will view the behavior of his niece, Abigail, his daughter, Betty and Tituba, his servant, not about their eternal salvation or that they are violating the code of behavior according to the Puritan belief system.

    He is very worried about the fact that his daughter Betty is sick, Abigail tells him that the rumors of witchcraft are all over the village.  He says:

    "And what shall I say to them? That my daughter and my niece were discovered dancing like heathen in the forest." (Miller)

    "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)

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/crucible/characters

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    Posted by pmiranda2857 on Tuesday March 24, 2009 at 3:26 PM