Danforth In The Crucible
Throughout the crucible we meet many static characters, many of which are found in the court. Their beliefs cannot be changed, nor their views on witchcraft. Judge Danforth is a prime example of that; He will stop at nothing to prosecute the guilty. Not once is he swayed that their is not a witch in salem.
A second piece of evidence is actually in the movie, when Danforth tells a girl that it is impossible for someone she is accusing of witchcraft to be a witch because she is Reverend Hale’s wife. This shows corruption because he is refusing to believe certain
Judge Danforth was the person who decided what happened to the ¨guilty¨ people, which led to 24 killed, 19 hanged, 1 pressed, and 4 who died in prison. "Near to four hundred are in the jails from Marblehead to Lynn, and upon my signature...and seventy-two condemned to hang by that signature" ( Page 183). Danforth talks about how with his signature he killed many people and put many people in prison. He shows how he is responsible for many deaths in not just Salem but, other places too. Judge Danforth used his powers as a Judge to his advantage, he was the most corrupt in this story.
Overall, Danforth was wrong. He faces many difficult descions throughout the play, and yet he stays mostly consistent. He chooses to save his own reputation over the lives of innocent people. He knowingly sends three people to die, just so that he can look good. Danforth was the main cause of all of the heartbreak and struggle endured in Salem.
He shows this when he asks Francis Nurse, “Do you know who I am, Mr. Nurse?” (p.209). Danforth thinks the law should be followed exactly as it is written without exception. He thinks that anyone who is against the trials is trying to go against him and the church. He is the judge and he does not like anyone questioning the way he runs the court.
“Danforth is a grave man in his sixties, of some humour and sophistication that does not however, interfere with an exact loyalty to his position and his cause” (Miller p81). Judge Danforth is so driven to be seen as the ultimate in righteousness that he refuses to see any other argument. This ambition could be seen in his refusal to listen to the truth when it contradicted his agenda. It was also evident in his overzealous pursuit of witchcraft and his willingness to manipulate others into going along with his course of action. Ambition prompted Danforth to be even more corrupt than he had previously been, while in his attempt to maintain and gain the town’s respect.
Much of what happens in Salem still resembles some things we see in society today. The word of one man can change people’s ideas and images of another without conclusive evidence. What people fear the most can sometimes bind us together, even if it is not
Reverend Hale and Judge Danforth are two authoritative figures in The Crucible whose roles in society are to lead the community in the ways and likeness of God so that the people of Salem can, basically, be good Puritans. Despite their similar intentions, there are also blaring differences which distinctly separate the two and their beliefs. To start, both Hale and Danforth work chiefly to serve God and lead his people on Earth to live holy and just lives. When the question of the Devil and witchcraft arise within Salem, both men come to investigate and cleanse the town of evil. While Judge Danforth considers himself “a minister of the Lord” and does “not take a life without there be proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience
This clouds his judgement to analyze evidence presented by the suspects of witchcraft. Danforth says,"We burn a hot fire here, it melts down all concealment", this quote shows that the the court only hears the truth and supposedly ignores the lies" (83). This is an inaccurate and an ironic statement. Even though, Danforth says that the court ignores all the lies to get to the truth, it is evident that this happens through the accusation of innocent girls. Danforth's power blinds him to the truth, and prevents him from seeing the effect that his actions have on the lives of innocent people
Danforth, the judge of the witch trials, has a strong need to protect his position as leader of the court. He finds his position too valuable to be risked even with surfacing evidence that would prove that he had failed to protect the innocent and incarcerate the wrongdoers. In Act Three, Francis attempts to offer the facts that: “The girls, sir, the girls are frauds. (87)” Danforth is quick to dismiss the argument
therefore proving everyone wrong. Parris dismays this, and informs Danforth to: “Beware this man, Your Excellency, this man is mischief. ”(88). Parris could have potentially thrown out any hope for justice to be served for this case, because ,as a Reverend, his word is revered and respected. These men are able to
Judge Danforth is also an antagonist as he is corrupt and a villain. He is arrogant and has high authority. He fails to examine evidence critically or to act when he could to stop the hysteria. Even at the end, when it’s obvious that the society is disintegrating, he refuses to see the role that the witchcraft trials and hangings have played in it.
Judge Danforth, he was one of the judges that served on the court when the witch trials were going on and was there during the time of when Abigail had accused all the women, and he had believed her, well the who court believed her. In Act 3 Danforth said “ I judge nothing. I tell you straight, Mister—I have seen marvels in this court. I have seen people choked before my eyes by spirits; I have seen them stuck by pins and slashed by daggers. I have until this moment not the slightest reason to suspect that the children may be deceiving me.
He believes strongly in his ability to judge the character of the informants. This comes into play when others question his judgement of Abigail and the girls from the woods. Danforth has a great deal of authority over the verdict of the accused, he has the power to judge them as not guilty. Danforth being the primary judge means he could have admitted to his foolishness and told the community that the accused people were not witches, and it would have made the townspeople believe that there was no witch problem in Salem at all. Danforth is too concerned with his reputation to admit that his judgement, at first, was clouded.
Danforth: Judge, Jury, and Executioner Judge Danforth’s position in the crucible is the Judge assigned to the proceedings of the Salem witch trials. Instead of treating this immense responsibility with the respect and restraint that is needed, Danforth abused his power by betraying the people of Salem and the Law. He did not listen to the people of Salem defending themselves before inevitably being sent to death; and he cared more about his reputation and the law than he did about peoples’ lives. Danforth was a ruthless power over the people of Salem he demanded respect for himself and the court; and nothing was more important than that.
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