Evidence of Vanity in Puritan WorksYou will never get a job dressed like this. You need to stop acting so stupid if you want people to take you seriously. Stop running your fingers through your hair – you don't want people to think you're a slob. Thoughts like these come to mind from time to time, probably because I worry too much about what other people think of me. I really care about how people perceive me and interpret my actions. However, I'm not really worried that vanity is my big flaw or that I become the next Narcissus, because everyone is a little vain. Unfortunately, some people take their pride a little too far. For example, John Proctor was so vain that he would rather die than tarnish his name; the judges who sentenced him had an inkling that they were killing innocent people, but when they realized it, they couldn't save the people without ruining their reputations. Arthur Dimmesdale let the mother of his son suffer years of judgment because he didn't want to face the shame of revealing her sin. These examples demonstrate that humans are naturally vain and that, occasionally, their vanity can dominate their lives. The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, contains several examples of vanity and its consequences; the most notable example is John Proctor and his refusal to taint his name. Proctor confesses to witchcraft to save his life; however, he tears up his signature when the judges reveal that they will make his confession public. When asked why he does this, he famously says that it is not worth the dust on the feet of those who were hanged. He claims that his name, the only one he will ever have, will be taken from him. It might seem like a strange obsession with your name...... middle of paper......, so you don't have to face the horrible consequences of your vanity. John Proctor would have lived to see another day if he had simply given up his name; the judges of Salem could have atoned for their sins by saving some lives and admitting their mistakes. Dimmesdale would not have had to suffer in silence and solitude if he had lowered himself from the pulpit and stood next to Hester. I hope that one day vanity will no longer become a motivation for people, but it seems that such a time is still far away. I mean, I still use my pride as an incentive to do things, even though there are less harmful ways to get excited. So yes, humans are vain, full of pride and selfish; however, this does not excuse people for their lies and mistakes. Rather, the knowledge contained in these literary works should inspire people to change that aspect of their lives.