In The Crucible, why does Parris care about his reputation and status?

In his opening notes to the play, Arthur Miller explains that before the witch trials begin, the town of Salem was already involved in a great deal of infighting.  Parris's appointment as the town minister had not set well with many of the townspeople.  They had had another candidate in mind, and so from Parris's first day on the job, he was on the defensive.

In addition to the original opposition to Parris's appointment, Parris was overly concerned about what others thought about him.  He reminds the townspeople that he is a Harvard graduate and his experience as a businessman in Barbados most likely increased his desire for the "finer" things in life--again, something that did not set well with many of the parishioners.

One last note: In early American days, because of the small, scattered population, men of learning built their careers by gaining appointments in one town and then working their way into larger churches and towns.  Parris, no doubt, had intentions of using his position in Salem as a stepping stone to further his career. Miller includes this information about Parris's character, and the judges' attitudes for that matter, to shed light on the religious hypocrisy and greed which led to the witch hunt.