Act 4: Character and Theme Question

Reverend Parris's job is the official priest or religious head of the village. He is dissatisfied with his job primarily because he is not a very nice person. Granted, being a priest in a puritan village would not be a barrel of fun but Parris is particularly weasel like. He frequently complains that he should be given the deed to his house. He covets his golden candlesticks and incessantly gossips about people in his congregation. Parris supports the gossip and fear mongering until he realizes that all of the destruction has come back to haunt him. People in the village are sick of all the death and they are sick of the church.