Examples Of Danforth In The Crucible

Danforth reassures that he “[judges] nothing”, and results in Proctor admitting to lechery in distress of how of the girls were behaving (Miller 1296). Religion is really important to the people of Salem, and by Danforth saying that he does not judge, Proctor also shows his true colors about how he isn’t as religious as he should be. That was a big deal because witches were not religious either, so now Danforth has everyone thinking Proctor is guilty. Having so much power and excellent public speaking skills, he was able to use his logic and think his logic was the only way to approach finding the group who was

Mr. Danforth, a lawyer trying to solve these crimes of witchcraft, is easily persuaded by statements made by Abigail, Mary Warren, John Proctor, and others. He states, "The pure in heart need no lawyers" (Miller 212). This fallacy, specifically non-sequitur, is an example of his power as such a corrupt figure in the courtroom. Danforth is certainly not pure at heart since his ideas and claims are based on what others have said and not his personal information. In a court of law, a convicted person is considered innocent until proven guilty. Except in Mr. Danforth’s situation, he believes that they are guilty until they confess or accuse others witchcraft to save themselves. Such as Mary Warren, who in Act III, comes into the courtroom prepared to testify for John, but when confronted with accusations of witchcraft, she turns on him, and claims that Mr. Proctor says to her, "'I'll murder you," he says, "if my wife hangs! We must go and overthrow the court, he says" (Miller). This fallacy, poisoning the well, is said in order to save herself after girls in the courtroom began screaming and repeating what Mary Warren had been saying to try to prove her guilty. Warren begins to do the same and claims Proctor is the Devil’s man. This is her attempt in overthrowing the court by claiming that John Proctor is associated with witchcraft, and again manipulating the entire courtroom to successfully escape her death sentence.

In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, people are accused of witchcraft and put to death because they don’t admit to it. People believed that witches followed the devil instead of God and only worked for the devil. Many people were killed without hard evidence for witchcraft. Many characters can be accused of causing the many deaths of innocent people but Abigail and Governor Danforth take most of the blame yet people could also blame Reverend Hale as well.

Therefore, we must rely upon her victims – and they do testify, the children certainly do testify. As for the witches, none will deny that we are most eager for all their confessions. Therefore, what is left for a lawyer to bring out? I think I have made my point. Have I not?"(239-243). Reverend Hale is starting to believe that the girls are lying, and he thinks that the ones being accused should have a lawyer but Danforth just says the accused only rely on victims and witnesses. Danforth feels that he has much power and he wants it to stay that way by "defending" the people. "I cannot hear you. What do you say? You will confess yourself or you will hang! Do you know who I am? I say you will hang if you do not open with me!" (483-487). Danforth knows that he has the power to say if someone hangs or not so he's using it to scare Mary into telling the truth, or in this case the truth he wants to hear.

After all of the witch trials in 1692 concluded a total of 20 people were hanged all because of people craving attention and personal gain. There are three people depicted in Arthur Miller's The Crucible that are most responsible for this and they are, Abigail Williams, Judge Danforth, and Thomas Putnam. Abigail Williams is mostly responsible for the Salem witch trials because she was the first person to start accusing innocent people of witchcraft. Judge Danforth is responsible because he is not concerned about justice, all he cares about is being correct about the witch trials. Lastly Thomas Putnam is guilty of causing the witch trials because he was able to have people accuse other people

Firstly, throughout the play Judge Danforth acts with pride and arrogance. At the commencement of act III Judge Danforth voices his view on the ongoing phase of the witchcraft trials by stating that “Do you take it upon yourself to determine what this court shall believe and what it shall set aside?” (Miller 85). Here Danforth

By all means he doesn't want people to have doubt on him and himself that he sentence the innocence to death. Moreover, he never lets anything slide from him and tae job as a judge very seriously. For instance, it stated in the novel “Be quiet!... Be quiet!!” (Miller 120) In this quote this display a repetition and that words are being ignored or listened. Which means, that his caring his reputation very deeply by seeing the extra exclamation mark . “Who is this?” (Miller pg 92) In this quote it tells that Danforth does not know people in Salem and insecure about his place as a judge. During this discussion in the court, he feel that abnormal tensions and that someone can or will challenge his

means more people dead, including those who were innocent. By this point in the play, many people were being sent to trial and sometimes dying, because of the lies told by the girls. In act 3, Danforth asks Mary Warren, “Then you tell me that you sat in my court, callously lying, when you knew that people would hang by your evidence? Answer me!” (Miller 97). She responds by stating “I did,”

He again shows clear alliance to the idea that witchcraft is present by subtly helping the group of accusers prove their innocence over Mary’s. “It does not escape me that this deposition may be devised to blind us; it may well be that Mary Warren has been conquered by Satan, who sends her here to distract our sacred purpose. If so, her neck will break for it.” Judge Danforth clearly gave the girls an argument they would then use to overcome Mary’s accusations, and continue their murderous path of cleansing the village. Lastly, Danforth assists carrying on the witch trials by making it extremely difficult to share evidence that would’ve obviously debunk the trials. When Danforth is told that Abigail, the leader of the prosecutors, is doing what she is doing out of jealousy and anger, he instructs his court to gather Elizabeth Proctor so he can confirm from another party that this information is, indeed, true. “Look at

Since Danforth only condemns based on how much devilish act comes from someone and not based on hard evidence, he is not serving justice. When confronted with the problem of why he trusts the accusers and not the accused, he simply says that a witch would not admit to it, so he “must rely upon her victims.” A guilty person would want to lie and say that they didn’t do anything wrong, but that doesn’t mean the accuser wouldn’t lie either. Danforth fails to see this, even when Proctor points out that “common vengeance writes the law.” There is motivation to lie and bring people to death because of common grudges, but this can’t be

Danforth says that “twelve [people] are already executed; the names of these seven [people] are given out, and the village expects to see them die this morning” (Miller 131). If Danforth stops the hangings, the villagers will get angry and cast doubt upon Danforth’s abilities to act as a judge. Also, Danforth says that it will not be fair to pardon some people accused of being witches because many have already been hanged. Even though his logic is flawed, Danforth refuses to listen to Hale and continues with the

In the play "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller, many people in the town of Salem, Massachusetts are accused of witchcraft and are put to death because of it. But also during the play, the judge refuses to believe claims that the girls, who are the accusers, are lying and have not actually seen the devil. Many people are sentenced because of this. Danforth and the other authorities are so resistant to believing claims that the girls are lying because people have already been hanged, the girls are so young, and it would ruin their reputation.

He is depicted as stubborn, as shown in his response when Giles Corey provides evidence that proves his wife’s innocence. Danforth responds by saying “Do you take it upon yourself to determine what this court shall believe…? This is the highest court…in this province, do you know it?” His refusal to hear evidence that is likely to contradict his guilty verdict indicates that ultimately, Danforth considers himself the final judge of what is right and wrong, reflecting the corruption inherent in Salem’s authority. The authors thus provide valuable insight into the signs and motivations of a corrupt government.

When people begin being accused of witchcraft, the punishment of which is death, Abigail sees an opportunity to get her way with John Proctor by accusing his wife. This spirals out control and dozens of people start being accused. Judge Danforth believed they were all guilty.In order to live, you must confess to being with the devil

Set way back in the Salem Witch Trials, The Crucible tells the story of young, accused witches and their plot to clear their names. Court trials are held often in order to find who is guilty of witchcraft, and Deputy Governor Danforth is the man that oversees these trials and determines who shall be hanged. This story is one of unfairness and ruining lives, somewhat reflecting that of times such as the Cold War and Great Depression. Many people are hung for activities that they did not undertake, and it is quickly revealed that these people of high power, such as Danforth, will do anything to stay in their highest power.