The Despicability Of Danforth In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

Dan-right dispicable
Puritans in the 17th century maintained a constant state of penance and self-discipline. This perpetual bowing to a supreme authority and repression of emotions left some feeling powerless. Thus, in 1692 when accusations of witchcraft were made in Salem, Massachusetts, some grew power hungry accusing and persecuting innocent people. One such persecutor was Deputy Governor Danforth. While believing he was serving God and eradicating evil from his town, he presided over a court that took twenty-one innocent lives and condemned several more. Danforth’s reckless abuse of authority and biased proceedings make him the most despicable character in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible.

As a judge presiding over the court in Salem, Danforth’s

Danforth, I gave them all my word no harm would come to them for signing this.
DANFORTH: Then I am sure they may have nothing to fear. Mr. Cheever, have warrants drawn for all of these - arrest for examination.” (Miller III.88)
By refusing to even hear evidence contrary to his ruling, he destroys the integrity of his court, it can no longer function as a system of justice. He again blatantly refuses to hear a different perspective as he is offered a written deposition from a key witness admitting to false testimony.
PROCTOR: She never saw no spirits, sir… She has signed a deposition, sir

He feared public mistrust over his key witness fleeing the town, then when asked if they should put the executions on hold, he considers his own image instead of the credibility of his sentences. “Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died till now.”(Miller IV.129) He fails to serve the true purpose of a judge; to provide an objective view based on a variety of evidence to administer justice. His need to be right and to be corroborated by the people beneath him becomes most evident when faced with those refusing to confess to crimes they did not commit. He so firmly believes that the people cannot be pure that he literally tortures and kills them if they do not affirm his claims. “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! (Miller III.117) His use of fear tactics in an already inflamed situation speak volumes about his true character. He makes threats and asserts his own importance in the same two sentences. He is so concerned with upholding God’s law and his own standing as an authority that he ignores the reality of his wrongful accusations. This mindset is classified as level two stage four thinking according to Kohlberg's seven stages of moral development. He acts to follow God’s persecution of witches, to protect public respect