Question

The difference in what a character does and says from the beginning of a play to its ending is called a character’s arc. Read page 529, how is the character of Parris different in Act IV compared to earlier in the play? Cite specific details.

Answer 1

Answer: He is broke, sad, and feels guilty about all that has happened, compared to how he was only worried about his reputation at the beginning of the play.

Explanation: In the story, Parris is a minister that is afraid that his daughter has been bewitched, and calls a witchcraft expert. He then knows that said witchcraft was made by his niece and daughter but is afraid that people knowing it may affect his reputation.

Later, in Act IV, after all of the unfair hangings that had been made to innocent people trying to find the culprit, he feels depressed, guilty and hopeless, since also, his niece, who started everything, stole his money and ran away. We can see this in the line: "My daughter tells me how she heard them speaking of ships last week, and tonight I discover my strongbox is broke into".