Final answer:
In Act I, Parris' main concern is the belief that his daughter Betty's illness may be due to witchcraft, and he is worried about the impact it may have on his reputation and position.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Act I, Parris' main concern is the growing belief that his daughter Betty's illness may be due to witchcraft. Parris is worried about the impact this accusation could have on his reputation and position in the community. This concern drives Parris to take action and seek help from others, like Reverend Hale, to investigate the possibility of witchcraft.
In Act I, Reverend Parris is mainly concerned with his reputation and the impact of witchcraft accusations on his status in Salem.
The main concern of Reverend Parris in Act I of The Crucible is his reputation and the potential for his detractors to use the witchcraft accusations against him. Reverend Parris discovered his daughter and niece involved in what looked like witchcraft activities the night before, and he is anxious about how these events may affect his standing in the community of Salem, especially if they lead to negative perceptions of his family and ministry. His paranoia about his social standing is evident when he questions Abigail about the evening's events and is nervous about the gossip that's already begun to spread.