Who Is Judge Danforth's Reputation In The Crucible

People who value their reputations greatly are politicians, businesses, high schoolers and almost anyone you ask. The majority of people try to do what’s right, but self reputation is a characteristic everyone has and it sometimes gets in the way because most people don’t want a damaged reputation. Joseph McCarthy and Judge Danforth are no exception to this. In the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Miller is creating an allegory about the Red Scare and the Salem Witch Trials from his own experiences. McCarthy, the creator of the idea McCarthyism, was a strong fighter against communism during the Red Scare. Judge Danforth a character in The Crucible was a puritan leader who was against witches. Danforth during the Witch Trials acts first out

To add on to the last point, not only did Danforth not let people defend themselves, he also used misleading questions with little or no evidence. For example, In act III Danforth asks Giles Corey, “Do you take it upon yourself to determine what this court shall believe and what shall set

Judge Danforth is also responsible for the Salem witch trials because his rulings to kill people came with no concrete evidence against them, only unreliable witnesses. Judge Danforth has a very cutthroat way for his rulings. One is either guilty or innocent, no opportunity for a second trial or a review of the case. He openly lets the court know this by saying "If you are not with the court, you are against it"(72). This almost proves that Judge Danforth is ignorant to hard evidence, only wanting people to admit that they are with or against him. Neither option is a just opinion, adding to the hysteria, lie so you can live and others die or tell your truth and die while others live. The people of Salem do not want to make this decision, thus leading to more innocent deaths of the people of Salem. If there had been a different judge in the Salem with trials they would have been over without a death and Abigail's deception would have been brought to light. Judge Danforth decides that many people are guilty, when in reality he should have said he was guilty.

His reply is accompanied with a vindictive nature towards anyone who opposes the actions of the court or by extension, him. Therefore, his arrogance and pride restrains him from listening to others point of view. Lastly, despite hearing about the mass opposition and rebellion at the Andover witchcraft trials, Judge Danforth refuses to postpone the hangings and orders Reverend Parris that “Now hear me, and beguile yourselves no more… Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part.” (Miller 129). Danforth arrogantly waves off the request of postponement made by Hale and Parris. He thinks that the act of postponement of the hangings will raise the issue of his credibility as a judge. Danforth’s pride of his status as a judge denies him from giving it a thought that his actions can lead to the death of innocent lives. When pride and arrogance interferes with ones wisdom the repercussions are often destructive. Judge Danforth proves this through the medium of his actions which lead to the destruction of trustworthiness in the community and brought tragedy to Salem.

Danforth’s corrupted mentality stems from his limitless power. All of the power Danforth holds comes from his high position in the court as a judge. Since a judge makes crucial decisions, Danforth holds an immense amount of power that he uses at his disposal. The supremacy of Danforth allows him to manipulate powerless characters such as John Proctor. Proctor, a wise farmer, does not hold much power in his community compared to Judge Danforth, due to social class. Thus, Danforth can use religion to suppress Proctor, as shown in act 3 of The Crucible. “Plow on Sunday!” (Miller 91). Danforth’s exclamation about plowing on Sundays shows that doing any sort of labor on Sunday is a sin, and Sundays are meant for the church. Danforth criticizing Proctor about his religious devotion allows Danforth to prove to the court and others as to why Proctor cannot be trusted. Even though Proctor was telling the truth, Danforth’s twisted methods of manipulation subdue vulnerable characters like Proctor. As shown, Danforth is able to use religion to put down a powerless man, and thus it turns the court case in his favor. Overall, Danforth, a powerful individual, is able to control Mr. Proctor and turn away his evidence by questioning Proctor about his unreligious

Explanation 2: Danforth allows himself to be so easily persuaded and tricked by Abigail and the other children. He lets his guard down when listening to Abigail because he believes her to be trustworthy: “Danforth, weakening: ‘Child, I do not mistrust you-’ ” (Miller 108). Part of this trust comes from Abigail having tricked the town into believing that she has been saved and it is her duty to point out the Devil’s people, but as a judge, it is Danforth’s duty to be impartial in the

Often individuals over dramatize their opinion to convey their attitude. Similarly, Danforth often acts extreme in his attempts to rid witchcraft from Salem when he says, “If retaliation is your fear, know this- I [Danforth] should hang ten thousand that dares to rise against the law” (Miller 129). Danforth displays demagoguery while he explains to Reverend Hale why the executions must happen on schedule because he appeals to Hale’s passionate fear of witchcraft. Danforth’s response to Hale works in the scene to further build the audience’s perception of Danforth as irritable and urgent, yet precise, and support his determination as Deputy Governor. However, Danforth’s determination often misguides his rationality. Furthermore, Danforth supports the thematic topic of law in The Crucible and helps the reader understand the severity of justice Miller conveys throughout the play. Danforth’s role develops the play by illustrating the stubbornness of authority in Salem during the witch trials.

In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, Danforth’s flaws- pride, gullibility, and stubbornness- led him to be the reason for the tragedy of the witch-hunt in Salem. In The Crucible, many characters were at fault for the downfall of the once respected town of Salem, Massachusetts. In my opinion, Danforth- the judge- was one of the main reasons for the death, pain, and suffering of this tragic tale. He was the man who could have seen the writing on the walls and stopped the madness right in its tracks, but his pride, gullibility, and stubbornness led him in the wrong direction.

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

An equitable judge should possess judicial temperament, courage, and integrity to make sure the delivery of an accountable justice process for the people. On the contrary, Danforth is a selfish and arrogant man who only cares about his own interests. His flawed personalities and hypocritical attitudes make him sightless and irrational throughout the witchcraft, which directly causes the calamity in the town. Danforth feels embarrassment and doesn’t know what to do when Proctor brings Mary Warren’s deposition which shows his previous judgment is wrong. He is baffled and find a reason to defend himself, “ There lurks nowhere in your heart, nor hidden in your spirit, Any desire to undermine this court? Are you in all respects a Gospel

     Judge Danforth’s conduct during the course of these tragic trials have lead me to be soured of the judicial community’s lack of impartiality. Judge Danforth is not alone in his quest for “justice”. Many other judges have used “divine right” as an excuse for the murder of innocent people. The witch trials are a mockery,that have no proof, evidence, or any other grounds for a trial. The only evidence they have, if we can even call it evidence, “spectral” evidence and hearsay. They be hanging people because a party of 16 year old lying heathens have claimed manifested spirits of the convicted have attacked them. How can these children blind the court, enough to get people murdered, under the guise of being bewitched. God save Salem

One of many reasons the witch trials were able to continue was because of Judge Danforth’s ignorance towards what was actually going on in Salem. When Francis Nurse and John Proctor try to explain to him the girls are deceiving him, he over rules their ideas by challenging “And do you know that near to four hundred are in the jails from Marblehead to Lynn, and upon my signature?”(Miller 179). Danforth is proud to say that he has put people in jail, put people to death for witchcraft because his ignorance blocks him from seeing the evidence he is presented with is false. As well as being exposed to false evidence, Judge Danforth also makes the claim that witchcraft cannot be disproved; therefore the court has to rely solely on the girl’s accusations. Danforth declares, “But witchcraft is ipso facto, on its face and by its nature, an invisible crime, is it not?

Danforth is a respectable man and is called to officiate the witchcraft trials in Salem. At first, he seems reasonable and his actions justifiable, but then Abigail discovers his weakness; his oath to God. Through a conversation with a fellow judge, Danforth states his opinion on the matter, which paints clearly the effect religion has on the rulings of these trials. “You think these girls lie to us? you think they lie before god himself? I will say it as it is said in the Bible, ‘... the truth will come from the mouths of babes…’ “ (“The Crucible”). This quotes makes the audience realize that Danforth is allowing his religious factions to overwhelm his obligation to uphold justice and provide fair trials with hard evidence, not the nay say of little girls. Danforth is possibly the most manipulated character in the play because Abigail is able to deceive him with her lies the entire time. Using his religious ties, Abigail was able to mask her true intentions to accuse others based on revenge and

Danforth believes he is an free minded person, although Miller describes him as a dictator in the courtroom. He believes people should not strike fear in the

:”Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”, said by Martin Luther King, Jr. The Crucible written by Arthur Miller in 1953 introduces us a story of this kind that injustice brought by a character named Danforth brings the social malfunction of Salem accompanied by a breakdown of humanity and faith. In our modern society, the public requires the power and presence of laws and justice system to protect their rights. However, when the structures become shackles and the judges mute off their voice of the truth, it leads the tragedy and misery to the people.