Why is Reverend Parris not responsible for the tragedy in Salem? Defend Parris using three points with textual evidence and explanations.

In the very first scene of the play, Parris is reluctant to believe that his daughter Betty's illness is due to witchcraft. Susannah Walcott enters his home having spoken with Dr. Griggs about Betty. Susannah says the doctor cannot find an explanation for Betty's symptoms in his books, and Parris insists, "Then he must search on." Parris believes her illness is physical, and not caused by witchcraft. The fact that he, a clergyman, is more...

In the very first scene of the play, Parris is reluctant to believe that his daughter Betty's illness is due to witchcraft. Susannah Walcott enters his home having spoken with Dr. Griggs about Betty. Susannah says the doctor cannot find an explanation for Betty's symptoms in his books, and Parris insists, "Then he must search on." Parris believes her illness is physical, and not caused by witchcraft. The fact that he, a clergyman, is more likely to seek a medical explanation than the doctor of Salem Village is very telling.

The second statement he makes suggesting his lack of responsibility occurs soon after: Susannah says the doctor told her that Reverend Parris "might look to unnatural things for the cause of it" and Parris immediately disagrees, saying "No, no, there be no unnatural causes here." He says he has sent for Reverend Hale, who will confirm this. He then says, "Let him look to medicine, and put out all thought of unnatural causes here. There be none."

Susannah responds that the doctor wanted her to say he should look to unnatural causes. Thinking the girl might speak of this to others, he insists: "Go directly home and speak nothin‘ of unnatural causes." This is a third example of Parris doing what he can to prevent any sort of rumors of witchcraft in the village. This is a powerful way to open the play, because it makes it clear that the creation of an environment of hysteria and rumor in Salem Village is made possible when outside visitors come to Salem (such as Reverend Hale, who believes in the witchcraft accusations until he begins to think John Proctor is being unfairly targeted).

Despite Parris' unwillingness to engage with the witchcraft rumors early on, and his belief that Abigail's lies may well be at the center of the problem, once the village is engulfed in hysteria he does little to speak out against it. His main motivation seems to be to maintain his position of employment, and it is revealed that other characters see him as greedy and self-centered.