"At the time of these events Parris was in his middle forties. In history he cut a villainous path, and there is very little good to be said for him."

"He believed he was being persecuted wherever he went, despite his best efforts to win people and God to his side."

"In meeting, he felt insulted if someone rose to shut the door without first asking his permission. He was a widower with no young adults, and until this strange crisis he, like the rest of Salem, never conceived that the children were anything but thankful."