The physical description of Danforth is that he are short compared to other people and he is an old man. There are no descriptions of how he looks in the play, but in the movie he is shown as an old man. Also, the personality traits of Danforth as a character is that is he is really fair-minded because he doesn 't care about anybody, but himself. He can tell someone execute someone without getting his feelings hurt. Danforth doesn’t have a heart, he’s awfully rude in both of the play and the movie. An important fact about Danforth is that he disturbs and angers people to discover fear on the court. He looks at people in the eye, very closely. He also tells people to only look at him, only him while talking in front of the court. Danforth is really good to know if someone is lying by using eye contact and asking the victims hard and scary questions. The roles that Danforth plays in The Crucible is a judge and a ruler. …show more content…
In 1699, Thomas Danforth was a politician, magistrate, and landowner in Massachusetts. Also, he was ruled as a councilor and magistrates of counseling for a large amount of years, which leads opposition to attempts by the English kings to control over the colony. He gathers all the land in the central part of the colony, which later became a portion of Framingham, Massachusetts.
Danforth was strict leader in the colony at the time of the Salem witch trials and he also presented as a person as a harsh judge. In reality, Danforth is played as being critical of the trials. Governor Danforth over looks the witchcraft trials in Salem and he likes to think only for himself, so it disturbs and angers him to discover that people fear the court. He believes that no innocent person should fear the court, and that he and Judge Hathorne are guided by God, so nobody will be
In 1692, William Phips is appointed the governor of Massachusetts around the time that many colonists were under large amounts of stress and accusing each other of being witches which became better known as the Witch Trials. Phips’ solution was to establish the court of Oyer and Terminer. He appointed William Stoughton as the chief justice. In this theocratic province, Stoughton used this opportunity to challenge
Danforth and Hale are involved in an argument over the Salem witch trials now that the court is now in session. Danforth gets angered and fiercely tries to imply (without proof) that the “fear” in the county is being caused by the witches and nothing more. According to Danforth, the goal of the witches is to overthrow the belief of Christ in Salem. Danforth’s use of words was a combination of all rhetorical devices. Logos was used to structure his argument, the vivid language led to the use of pathos, and lastly ethos was associated with his authority and confidence in yelling out the true “problem” in Salem. Danforth clearly states that he thinks the daughter was the “villain” and in his mind he is the hero for realizing that the use of witchcraft
In addition to that the common citizen often saw this in local news on a daily basis, increasing the prevalence of fear within citizens (“Red Scare”). This reasserts the presence of fear within the US during the time of the Red Scare, and because of this constant threat they see pushed by the people around them the more inclined they are to take unreasonable action such as turning on people within their community. Similarly in the town of Salem, as written by Arthur Miller’s crucible, Judge Danforth reveals the opinions of the court promoting the infallibility of the court. He touts an idea that if one is not aligned with the court they are then against it. The use of court to display this message is symbolic of the overall beliefs of the society displayed in the novel, as the court often represents the fundamental values within a society. In this moment Danforth reveals that true effect fear has on this society, the people within the town are so frightened, of the idea of witches they are able to place their values in a system that doesn't work or make sense within the town. The people of Salem unjustly give more power to the organization that is causing the problems, because they are scared of
Throughout The Crucible, Miller is concerned with conscience and guilt. Through the character Abigail Williams, he shows how people are willing to abandon their firmly-established values in order to conform with the majority and protect themselves. Those who refuse to part with their conscience, such as the character of John Proctor, are chastised for it. For this reason, the Salem witch trials raise a question of the administration of justice. During this time in the late 1600’s, people were peroccupied by a fear of the devil, due to their severe Puritan belief system. Nineteen innocent people are hanged on the signature of Deputy Governor Danforth, who has the authority to try, convict, and execute anyone he deems appropriate. However, we as readers sense little to no real malice in Danworth. Rather, ignorance and fear plague him. The mass
One definition of "crucible" is "a severe test of patience and belief, or a trial". This definition pertains to Arthur Miller's four-act play, "The Crucible." The definition is suiting, because it is during this play that the wills of innocent women and men are put to the test when they are accused of things they did not do. It was the ultimate trial of determination and willpower to withstand such a wretched ordeal. Abigail Williams, Elizabeth and John Proctor, Mary Warren, Reverend Parris and even Reverend Hale had changed drastically because of what they had to go through during the course of the play. However, other characters such as Ezekiel Cheever and Marshall Herrick did not really change noticeably. Reverend Parris and Reverend Hale are two characters in "The Crucible" that did change, and Ezekiel Cheever is one that did not.
The Crucible written by Arthur Miller is a historical play about the Salem Witch Trials. The play contains a historical allegory to the Salem Witch Trials and a political allegory to Mccarthyism. John Proctor is one of the main characters in and is considered the tragic hero of the play. Throughout Miller’s play, John Proctor is seen as the protagonist of the play because he is not afraid to stand up for what he believes in, even if no one else agrees with him. John Proctor’s intention to hang instead of admitting that he was consorting with the devil was an act of honor because he didn’t want to lie for the sake of saving his own life, but also wanting to prove that Puritan society has changed because of the Salem Witch Trials.
Parris and Danforth prioritize their reputations over John Proctor’s actual life. Hale does not care about his good name, but about the lives of the people in Salem and his guilt for partaking in the trials. Like Proctor, Parris, Hale, and Danforth are extremely flawed men. They all make unrighteous decisions that can be selfish. Unlike Proctor, though, these men place their own needs above the needs of the community. John Proctor has lived in Salem all his life and cares for the town and its citizens, whereas Reverend Hale, Reverend Parris, and Danforth are all outsiders to the town. They place themselves above the well-beings of the townspeople for the reason that they do not care if Salem is to be destroyed. Reverend Parris, Reverend Hale, and Deputy Governor Danforth’s yearn of John Proctor’s confession represents they only care for their own self-interests and not about what his confession could do for the town of
In this act there is also a striking example of what is known as the holding back of climax. The judges are in the utter belief that they are right and it is Danforth who is especially proud of his authority. “Surely you do not question my justice,” from Danforth signifies that under his rule, he has no opposition to take into consideration. He is essentially on a quest to prove that witchcraft is rife in Salem. When Parris asks Danforth to postpone the hangings that are due that day before the “sun is up,” Danforth replies that “this way unconfessed and claiming innocence, doubts are multiplied.”
...w. Ultimately all order is lost and cannot be redeemed by the high court because Danforth “cannot pardon when twelve are already hanged for the same crime” (4.129) Chaos wins the battle against order and thus breaking the power of theocracy in Salem.
In every family, there is one child that is always very misleading and evil, and besides that, they get away with everything that they do that is unsound. The certain person in the family may break on of you mom’s favorite plate, and then end up placing the blame on you, and then persuades your parents that he or she is telling the true. Abigail Williams is the poor duplicate of that sibling or relative. She influences everyone that she is an innocent teenage girl, but that is not the case throughout the play. In the play, The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, Abigail is the bona fide misleading and evil teenage girl.
“Hale: Why, it is all simple. I come to do the Devil’s work. I come to counsel Christians they should belie themselves. (His sarcasm collapses.) There is blood on my head! Can you not see the blood on my head!!” (Miller 137). In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, a man is sent to Salem, Massachusetts to help get rid of the witches. This man’s name is John Hale. He helps get rid of people that are accused of witchery. The judge is still accusing people of witchcraft and because they will not admit it they are getting hanged. Hale is a dynamic character because at first he wants to prove that witchery is real but at the end he recognizes that a man named John Proctor was telling the truth and that the girls were lying the whole time.
Judge Danforth, the deputy governor of Massachusetts and leading judge of the Salem witch trials, is described as a man who can do no wrong. The innocent citizens listen and obey to everything that Danforth requests. Part of the reason why Danforth believes he can do no wrong is because he feels he is guided by God, “The law, based upon the Bible, and the Bible, writ by Almighty God, forbid the practice of witchcraft, and describe death as the penalty thereof” (46). Danforth must follow God’s instructions and execute the accused citizens of witchcraft in Salem. As the play progresses the population of Salem decreases due to the amount of hangings, Danforth realizes Abigail is the one at fault. Danforth is put on a problematic situation. Danforth knows he’s killed so many innocent citizens but if he steps down from the court, he would be admitting to all his wrongdoings and he’s reputation would be ruined. When Danforth finds out Proctor is going to be hanged due to witchcraft he says, “Mr. Proctor, you have been notified, have you not? I see light in the sky, Mister; let you counsel with your wife, and may God help you turn your back on Hell.” (58). In this quote, Danforth is trying to persuade Proctor to confess of witchcraft even though he is innocent of it, just because he doesn’t want to be the one to hang him. Danforth is put in a very complicated
Judge Danforth is responsible because he is not concerned about justice, all he cares about is being correct about the witch trials. Lastly, Thomas Putnam is guilty of causing the witch trials because he was able to have people accuse other people so he could claim their land for himself. The witch trials were a senseless massacre and all because Abigail Williams, Judge Danforth, and Thomas Putnam were only concerned about themselves, not the innocent ones around them. Abigail Williams started the witch trials in Salem because she and a group of her friends wanted some attention from their town. Abigail thinks she is superior to some people, specifically Tituba, and has no problem accusing people she feels superior to.
To encapsulate, the character of Judge Danforth, initially thought off as the voice of authority. A person on whom Salem depended the most, for justice. His inappropriately actions due to his misconceptions and self-righteous mentality wiped off the communal trust and social bonds of the people of Salem. Thereby making him the most responsible for the tragedy Salem.
The most pervasive effect of power is the deprivation of judgment. Judge Danforth is blinded by his power as it causes him to be unjust in the proceedings of the Salem Witch Trials. He is also blinded by his reputation and brags about his power by claiming “Seventy-two condemned to hang by my signature” (Miller 1133). Similarly, his power and influence prevent him from hearing a defense in the witch trials, even when offered a proper defense by Giles Corey, Danforth calls for Giles’ arrest for being in contempt of the court. Additionally, Judge Danforth further showed his incompetence by refusing to postpone the hangings of John and Rebecca by outright denying Reverend Parris’ request.