The Power of Lies
The Salem Witch Trials were a time of kill or be killed, The accusations spread throughout the town of Salem and made their way to the court. Danforth throughout the book made it obvious that his goal was to maintain the court’s authority even if it meant lying and killing innocent citizens. The lies Danforth and the men in power told were devastating because everyone knew that Abigail and the girls were lying just to save their lives and yet he and the others believed what they wanted to believe. There are strength in numbers and when abigail and the girls all acted possessed Danforth believed them. The court overlooked the truth and did what was best for their names and the reputation of the court. If Danforth and
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He ruined many lives and showed no remorse for them or their families. One of many examples of this is Giles Cory, a farmer in Salem who was crushed to death after telling the truth of not being a witch. Danforth didn’t believe him and gave him many chances to admit to the crimes but he didn’t because he was innocent . Another prime example is Danforth hanging someone as pure and innocent as Rebecca nurse because the town knew her as a holy citizen and eventually was hanged for witchcraft. “ As for Rebecca herself, the general opinion of her character was so high that to explain how anyone dared …show more content…
His status as a judge and a leader in the community would be demolished by his decisions made later on during the trials. His reputation was ruined by his tendency to accuse innocent people and his refusal to consider evidence that would have helped the case of the accused. “ Excellency, we have proof for your eyes ; God forbid you shut them to it. The girls, sir the girls are frauds” ( Miller 87) . Time after time after being given proof he disregarded it and continued his accusations on the many people found guilty. The devastating part of his case is that he believed what he wanted to believe and when given proof and evidence of innocence he pushed it to the side which made him biased to his own