“Nothing strengthens authority like silence” (Leonardo Da-Vince). In Arthur Miller's play The Crucible, there were several problems that led to the downfall and corruption in the town of Salem. The biggest problem was with Reverend Paris and how much he struggled with his authority in the city as a man of God. The reader must understand that even though Reverend Paris is supposed to be a man of God, he abuses his power to control the church, protect his reputation, and focus too much on material possessions. A vital force in the corruption of the people of Salem is how Reverend Paris abuses his power to control the church. Reverend Paris uses his power to control the church by instilling fear in the congregation. First, Reverend Paris shows his lust for control by stating, “Either there is obedience or the church will burn as hell is burning” (Miller, 1274). This means that either everyone will obey anything and everything he says or they will all burn in hell. This shows how it puts fear into the people of the church. Also, Reverend Paris shows his need to be me...