Discussion Topic
Reverend Parris's Relationship with His Niece Abigail in The Crucible
Summary:
Reverend Parris's relationship with his niece Abigail is strained and complex. Parris is concerned about his reputation and frequently worries about Abigail's behavior, fearing it will reflect poorly on him. Despite his protective instincts, there is underlying tension, as Abigail's rebellious actions and manipulations often challenge his authority and create conflicts in their household.
What does Reverend Parris reveal about his niece Abigail in The Crucible?
In addition to revealing that he found Abigail and her friends dancing in the forest and "traffick[ing] with spirits," Reverend Parris's conversation with her also reveals to the audience that Abigail's reputation in the town is likely not as spotless as it should be. He asks her, "Your name in the town—it is entirely white, is it not?" He thinks it is odd that she was "discharged" from her position at the Proctors' household seven months ago and that no one else has offered to hire her again in that time. Further, Reverend Parris has also heard a rumor that Goody Proctor has told people that she does not want to come to church anymore because she refuses to "sit so close to something soiled," implying that Abigail is dirty or sinful. When her uncle asks her about her reputation, Abigail gets immediately defensive and starts to disparage Elizabeth Proctor....
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In fact, she gets so angry so quickly that it makes it seem as though she really is guilty of something (and we find out, soon enough, that she is).
In the beginning, Parris discovers Abigail dancing in the woods with her friends. He doesn't reveal it at first because he feels her behavior can ruin him. However it eventually comes out after Hale comes to town. Abigail in turn blames everything on Tituba.
Later in the play, he reveals that Abigail and Mercy Lewis have run away and that Abigail stole from him.
Why is Parris angry with his niece, Abigail, in The Crucible?
Parris is angry at Abigail because she is beginning to exhibit a pattern of behavior that makes her seem very suspicious. First, he's heard rumors that her name is no good in the village; she was dismissed from service seven months ago, and no one has tried to hire her since. Moreover, the woman she used to work for is rumored to be staying home from church because "she will not sit so close to something soiled." This is problematic because, for the people in Salem, reputation is everything.
Further, the night before, Parris found Abigail, his daughter, and other girls from the town "dancing like heathen in the forest" while his Barbadian slave, Tituba, chanted over the fire. He worries that she has "trafficked with spirits" and invited the Devil into Salem. Moreover, Betty is now very strangely ill, as is another girl in the town, and so he fears whatever might have caused her condition. Finally, he seems mostly angry with Abigail because she could be endangering his position in the town. He says that he has "many enemies," and that they will find out if there is anything questionable happening in his house and "ruin" him with it.