Golden Candlesticks

The significant passage I chose this week has to do with the materialism that lies with the town of Salem. It can particularly been seen with Reverend Parris but there are other instances with land where this issue comes up. John Proctor recognizes this, “But Parris came, and for twenty week he preach nothin’ but golden candlesticks until he had them.” (pg. 62)

Although Salem is said to be a Holy town, it seems as though there is more concern with materialism and reputation than religion itself. The materialistic hold is especially prominent in Reverend Parris’s character. There have been many instances like the one mentioned above that elude to the fact that money and possessions may be more important to Parris than anything else. He had previously mentioned how he was a successful businessman in Barbados and couldn’t “fathom” the poverty of Salem. As the story proceeds there is a continual weaving of materialism throughout the chapters. There are many disputes over land ownership and this eventually leads to bitter relationships. This is a critical theme to the story and leads to yet another theme as well: hypocrisy. Why would a town that claims to be focused on spirituality choose a minister who will only preach at an altar with golden candlesticks? The town is hypocritical and clearly does not maintain the holy status that they are perceived to be. As seen in the book so far there are three prominent themes: materialism, reputation/status, and hypocrisy. I predict there will be many more instances in which each of these themes will occur.