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Examples Of Innocence In The Crucible

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In Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible, the reader watches as a small Massachusetts village tears itself apart during the Salem Witch Trials. Friends and neighbors accuse each of in fear that they are consorting with the Devil. It is no surprise then, that alliances begin to form in Salem. Some people use the trials as an opportunity to exact their revenge or for their own personal gain. However, these alliances are not as stable as they may seem, and some characters shift their allegiances. As the play continues, the reader gains more insight about the characters and their intentions as they decide where their true loyalties lie. While most of the teenage girls accusing people of witchcraft seem to be pretty evil, if not insane. Mary …show more content…

While the judges on the court should be fair, this is not the case for Judge Danforth. He is the highly respected Deputy Governor and is put in charge of the trials. He is extremely loyal to his position and takes the notion of witchcraft quite seriously. In the beginning of Act III, when Giles, Francis, and Proctor try to prove their wives’ innocence, Danforth is willing to listen to their testimonies. He remains relatively unbiased, however this begins to change. At the end of the act, after Mary accuses Proctor, Danforth sentences Proctor to jail, “What are you? You are combined with the anti-Christ, are you not? I have seen your power; you will not deny it!” (Miller 1338). Despite Hale’s warnings that the girls are frauds, Danforth ignores him and sides with Abigail and the other girls. Even when Danforth has the opportunity to set things right and set the innocent free before they are hanged, he refuses. When Hale begs Danforth to pardon the accused, Danforth says, “I will not receive a single plea for pardon or postponement. Them that will not confess will hang...Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part: reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died till now” (Miller 1348). Danforth does not want to accept any pleas because if he does, people might think those who have already been hanged could have been innocent. Danforth does not want to put his reputation at stake, even if it means men will die. He, like Mary Warren, is considering his own position and the preservation of his status. In the end, Danforth puts himself above the court and the law, something he would have been strictly opposed to when the trials

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When a trial is going on the court needs to have solid evidence before accusing anyone of being guilty or not guilty. The Salem Witch trials was a historical event that took place in Salem, Massachusetts, where a group of girls were accused of witchcraft, and later they all testified to the activity of witchcraft, and for this they were not punished for their wrong doings; however, everyone else that was accused and did not testify were punished for telling the truth about not being involved in witchcraft. The ultimate responsibility for the deaths of the innocent Puritans is borne by Danforth because he makes decisions without having solid proof, he believes the other girls over Mary Warren , and he has all the power to decide who gets to die or survive. One reason why Danforth is responsible for the death of the innocent Salemites is because he makes decisions without having solid proof. During the whole trials Danforth does not believe anyone who does not testify to witchcraft because he believes the girls that accused the innocent puritans.

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878 Words | 4 Pages

Judge Danforth tried as hard as he could to get at the truth in some instances. One of the most intense scenes was when Danforth said “Look at me only, not at your husband. In my eyes only” (117) to Elizabeth, one of the women being accused of witchcraft. Elizabeth Proctor was in court and Danforth was asking her questions about her husband. Danforth was genuinely interested in the truth and came up with an intelligent way to get it.

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While reading the story you view many different examples of betrayal that were done during the times of the witch trial. For instance in Act 1 of The Crucible we read about Abigail telling Reverend Hale that Tituba made

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Hale acknowledges human’s mortality more so than Danforth who believes his word is the final say. Furthermore, Judge Danforth appears to only be concerned with having those who were jailed, confess to being witches whether they were or not. All those who do not confess to conspiring with the devil in his eyes are evil and those “who weep for [them, therefore] weep for corruption” (134). In contrast, Hale is desperate to save the innocent from their inevitable doom because he believes “life is God’s most precious gift” and “no principle [] may justify taking it” (122). He even encourages Elizabeth Proctor to “prevail upon [her] husband to confess” because “God damns a liar less than he that throws his life away for pride” (122).

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606 Words | 3 Pages

In the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller the Salem trials come about in a deeply religious and superstitious society of puritans. The majority of the characters in the play become convinced that the removal of the devils spirit and witches from their community is the work of God. However, there are many intense feuds and rivalries in the small town that arise, which leads to the Salem residents taking advantage of the witch trials to express animosity and to plot the perfect revenge on their enemies. Abigail Williams was the original source of the hysteria in Salem. Abigail's hysteria was fueled by her hatred toward Elizabeth Proctor "She hates me, uncle; she must, for I would not be her slave.

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784 Words | 4 Pages

Since the beginning of time people have gone through trials in court to either be proven innocent or guilty. In the Crucible by Arthur Miller a massive number of people were being convicted in Salem, Massachusetts because of the witch trials. The law of the land states that everyone is above suspicion until they are demonstrated to be guilty by legitimate evidence; in the play the Crucible if a person was accused of an unlawful act they were summons for being a witch and working for the devil without proper confirmation. Citizens in Salem were imposed to establish their innocent or be put to death, which caused conflicting issues in the village.

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Fullmer 1 Undoubtedly children in The Crucible have a very defining aspect of one of the major themes in the novel, innocence vs guilt. In Salem, everything and anything either belongs to God or the Devil and who is more innocent in the eyes of God than a child? Childlike behavior is associated with innocence and this apparent innocence is what kept many of the children in Salem protected during the witch trials. The symbolism of innocence relating to the children, the voice that children are given in The Crucible compared to the other people who lack the ability to defend themselves because they are considered to be less credible, and why children are represented the way they are and how their representation contrasts other characters in the novel are all important elements to the novel as a whole.

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He is known for the quote, “Do you know who I am, Mr. Nurse,” (49) and, “[do] you doubt my authority?” (55). Danforth represents the the archetypal character type who will rely on his power to gain what he desires, simply through giving others fear that he will use his power to hurt them. He is rather paradoxical given the fact that he is a reverend, but at several times during the play it appears as if he is attempting to use the court as a launchpad for his own career. In fact, when he is faced with the possibility of the masses losing faith in the court system, he and Parris seem to be scared for the court as if it were their life in jeopardy.

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Shawn Jande Ms. Clancy American Literature B3 15 November 2015 The Crucible Analytical Essay Imagine, being accused of a crime you didn’t commit by your neighbors and friends out of jealousy, and desire. This is what many people in the town of Salem had to go through during the time of the Salem Witch Trials. People's motives such as: gaining and maintaining power, and aspirations for what other people had caused them to make irrational, and atrocious decisions. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, desire and power drive characters to create chaos in the community.

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To Danforth, keeping his known probity is far more important than justice, which is evidence of stage four of Kohlberg's moral stages. Judge Danforth desires to fortify the position of the court in Salem, but he has been duped by a group of young girls. Therefore, Danforth has two options: admit his fault or proceed with unjust executions, of which he chooses the latter. Some redeemable characters such as Reverend Hale realizes this and joins the failing attempt to achieve true justice. Once Hale acknowledges the madness and corruption within the court, he denounces the proceedings which is evidence of stage three of the moral stages.

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1249 Words | 5 Pages

After Abigail’s accusation that Mary is sending her spirit into them, causing a hysterical scene in the court, Danforth’s doubts grow about the girls’ truthfulness, but he allows the trials to continue on false evidence, forsaking his moral authority, to protect his position as Deputy Governor of Massachusetts. Only the ultimate punishment for those accused of consorting with the devil will satisfy the desire to maintain civil and religious order of the

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540 Words | 3 Pages

When he says this, he is defending his reputation and the court in fear of being exposed because part of him knows this isn’t true. Later you would think after Abigail left he would have changed but no he is just scared for his life. Act 4 states, “Tonight, when I open my door to leave my house—a dagger clattered to the ground. Silence. Danforth absorbs this.

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626 Words | 3 Pages

Abigail can be claimed for starting the chaos in Salam, but Danforth is to blame for all of the lives taken. He has authority over everybody in the town and all of the accused lives are in his hands. On many occasions Danforth is given evidence about the accused, but does not fully examine it because he wants to preserve his reputation as Deputy governor. Abigail got the chaos started in Salem but he could've stopped the hangings ate any time, but he didn't. Deep down Danforth knows that the girls story is a fraud, but many of the accused have already hanged, so he contains to preserve his reputation.

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707 Words | 3 Pages

Many ask for his mercy towards the accused and he denies it to them to keep his reputation, “... Postponement now speaks floundering on my part...” (Miller 667). This shows that Danforth could have ended the hysteria in Salem by admitting that he does not believe that any of the accused are guilty and claiming the accused not

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751 Words | 4 Pages

Arthur Miller’s portrayal of a town in the midst of a downfall “The Crucible”, tells the story of how mob mentality and hysteria can significantly influence not only individuals but the whole town. This mob mentality leads to unthoughtful acts and false accusations. Two characters who demonstrate how mob mentality can lead to the demise of Salem are Abigail and Mary Warren. As Abigail begins to be accused she is pressured to deter from the truth. While Mary Warren gets pressured by Proctor to reveal the truth about Abigail, but the overwhelming pressure from the mob makes her turn from the truth.

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