Greed in Salem The destructive force that the show showcases the most is greed because the town of Salem is destroyed and many people are hanged. Greed is an important part of the story and is shown throughout the play by many different characters. The people of Salem are affected and the town is ultimately destroyed due to selfish acts resulting from greed. The minister, Reverend Parris, is an excellent example of greed. Reverend Parris says, “A minister does not deserve a house to live in” (Miller 1250). Reverend Parris is the minister of Salem and should be happy and satisfied with what he has. However, he is describing how he believes that because he is a minister, he should have a better house to live in. Reverend Parris also shows another example of greed in the play by saying, "I'm paid little enough without spending six pounds." on firewood” (Miller 1250). In this quote, the reverend complains about how little he is paid for being the city's minister. Again, he thinks he should get firewood without paying for it because of his identity. Reverend Par...