Reverend Parris holds both traditional and atypical perspectives on children in the play The Crucible. Like many Puritans, he believes that children should be obedient, quiet, and respectful. This is evidenced many times in the play, such as when he tries to get Betty to follow his commands in the very first scene.
He also, like many Puritans, believes that children are particularly susceptible to evil and corruption. He displays this mindset in such scenes as Abigail's confession and later when he accuses Mary Warren of lying in Act III. This belief reinforces the former perspective, because if children are indeed "good", then they can avoid evil. These two perspectives feed into one another.
However, Reverend Parris, paradoxically, treats the children as if they were incredibly wise and respected. During the witch trials, the girls who are accusing their friends and family members of witchcraft are given many privileges, and their behavior and desires are accepted with little or no question.
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