Final answer:
John Proctor challenges Reverend Parris's authority and motives in Arthur Miller's 'The Crucible', showing contempt rather than respect or fear. He views Parris as materialistic and self-concerned, which is a significant aspect of the play's exposition of the conflict between personal integrity and public reputation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The character John Proctor's attitude toward Reverend Parris in Arthur Miller's play The Crucible is not one of respect or fear, but rather one characterized by contempt and challenge. Proctor openly challenges the minister's authority, his principles, and his motives. This attitude is indicative of Proctor's broader scepticism of the witch trials and the corruption he perceives within Salem's theocratic leadership.
Throughout the play, Proctor questions Parris's character, accusing him of being more concerned with his reputation and material wealth than with the spiritual welfare of his parishioners. Proctor's challenges to Parris's authority become a central theme in the narrative, underscoring the tension between personal integrity and public reputation that plays out against the backdrop of the Salem witch trials.