He has authority over everybody in the town and all of the accused lives are in his hands. (She is transfixed with all the girls, she is whimpering open-mouthed, agape at the ceiling.) Danforth displays demagoguery while he explains to Reverend Hale why the executions must happen on schedule because he appeals to Hales passionate fear of witchcraft. In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, the flaws within the religious Puritan courts are on full display. Sadly he does nothing, still knowing what all the women are doing is suspicious he doesn 't stop the hangings and imprisonments. Governor Danforth represents rigidity and an over-adherence to the law in The Crucible. Despite this, Judge Danforth still continues the hangings which shows that he stills trusts Abigails words and accusations. When Danforth realizes the mistakes he made with the people he sent to be hung, he continues to sentence people to be hung to keep his reputation. However, when the structures become shackles and the judges mute off their voice of the truth, it leads the tragedy and misery to the people. He is also a highly religious man who takes matters between God and men seriously. This is portrayed by Abigails calling of Proctor as the devils man who put knowledge in my heart. clearly trying to label Proctor as an outsider, as well as the characterisation of John Proctor as a non-conformist through his desperate rejection of the labels society places upon him. Judge Danforth is the deputy governor of Massachusetts and he presides over the witch trials in Salem alongside Judge Hathorne. She denies the fact that John Proctor wants nothing to do with her. I believe that Danforth, the judge, is to blame. He is the presiding judge during the witch trials, and is known for being a harsh and unforgiving man. Proctor's mixed up feeling caused him to come to a conclusion and he wound up confessing his sins. This is also why he refuses to let news about his niece and daughter get out, he doesnt want people to overthrow his position. Others may believe that his pride leads him to making irrational decisions in The Crucible by Arthur Miller. It is that pride that leads to many of his mistaken and irrational judgments in. He had false accusations made against him, which resulted in a defamation of his character and being discouraged with Puritan Society., Our names are labels, plainly printed on the bottled essence of our past behavior. To his discontent, none of these tactics work leaving his main purpose a failure. 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, The contention between the characters have intensified as the argument escalates, and Proctor's failure at pinning the blame on Abigail has frustrated him. Starting with several young girls claim to be afflicted by witchcraft and then accuse people in the town of witchcraft. The Crucible and Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God include evidence that individuals use religion as justification to prey on others fears and insecurities, to use as evidence to explain an occurrence or phenomenon, or to pass judgement on another person because Miller wishes to shed light on the manipulation of ideas and religion, and Edwards wishes to persuade his audience through these tactics. Postponement now speaks floundering on my part (Miller 667). God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. However, the fact that this trial is based off of an invisible crime requires Danforth to rely completely on his own beliefs while judging, therefore shedding light on his attempts to separate the law from religion within his court. Obviously, when the structures become shackles and the judges mute off their voice of the truth, it leads the affliction and misery to the people. When he starts to realize he continues to avoid people from getting mad at him for putting innocent people in jail and killing them. ?where she walks the crowd will part like the sea of Israel? This is showing the the judge had complete trust in them and when John had pointed out that the things that the women were doing were kinda suspicious he questions it and realizes that the girls are faking all of it. Abigail Williams may be wicked, but Judge Danforth represents something more agonizing: tyranny. Do you understand my meaning?. Ultimately, Proctor uses ethos, logos, and pathos to convince Danforth to free his wife, but is unsuccessful. Judge Danforth may have not started the Hysteria started in the town but he fed into it by believing Abigail and not stopping her from lying when he found out she was lying to the court and the people in the town of Salem. Danforth is too concerned with his reputation to admit that his judgement, at first, was clouded. The girls, especially Abby, are given an incredible amount of power during the trials. "Danforth. Abigail Williams was the goody two shoes that kept her reputation high, until she turned on many with a single lie. 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. So, he uses pathos to appeal the court, tarnishing his name. Judge Danforth Character Analysis in The Crucible The simple fact that he does not let any one of those . His major plan is to become wealthier and destroy his oppositions in the witch hunt. He seems a hard man, and one not willing to change his views. Putnam is a realistic person. God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. When his own life is directly under threat, Proctor was initially ready to give up his reputation (values) in order to save his life. Despite this, he chooses to believe that Abigail has probably mistaken to identify the woman associated with Lucifer. Deputy Governor Danforth is a selfish, arrogant, and corrupt man who only cares about his own goods. Although this confession destroys Johns reputation he confesses not only, It also played a big part in creating conflicts between John Proctor and his wife, inner conflicts, as well as desperation adds to the stories complexity. When Parris located the girls in the woods, Abigail tries to hide her behavior because she fears that it will uncover her affair with Proctor if she confesses that she attempted to cast a spell on his wife, Elizabeth. As said in the documents I read, the theme is "the fundamental and often universal idea of a literary artwork". Injustice In The Crucible. She holds most of the responsibility because she was to blame for the girls meeting with Tituba in the woods. Abigail uses her own personal desires to get to what she wants even though many people died in the. The character being analyzed is Judge Danforth who represents the power of an individual within Crucible. You could say that Judge did not know that Abigail was lieing out of nativity and all his actions were lead by his dense nature because of his faith, blinding him from what was in front of him because he needed something to justify the reason for killing and imprisoning these women. Proctor realized the truth behind everything and decided it was time to come forward and tell Danforth, She thinks to dance with me on my wife's grave! Only Mr. Putnam can afford to buy. (Miller page 521) After reading this quote, it is apparent that Abigail hides the truth Hale speaks from Danforth, by distracting him with another made up act of Mary Warren, He falls to the false accusations of the girls and begins to believe them. The Crucible Danforth Essay Judge Danforth In The Crucible Essay. “The tract is in my bounds, it’s my bounds, Mr. Proctor,” says Putnam(32). :Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, said by Martin Luther King, Jr. He responds, only to tell her that nothing happened in between them and to forget about her hopes about him entirely. The day his daughter cried out on Jacobs, he said she'd given him a fair gift of land (96). Abigail enjoys being seen as a saint: ? People who were accused of witchcraft are wrongfully indicted, and those transgressions must be justified. At this point in the play, Instead of interrogating Abigail, he is silenced by her which most likely shows that he has accepted her demand of not being judged. Reverend Parris highly regards his reputation more than standing up to a corrupt authority. To whom will the tract go to? His words turn out to be true: while Danforth falsely . “I bought that tract from Goody Nurse’s husband five month ago,” Proctor replies Putnam(32). They count upon the ability to use a lawyer, trial by jury, and basic rights to protect themselves. Parris, Abigail Williams, and Elizabeth Proctor. There are many things that typical Americans expect from their courts. John tries to reveal who Abigail really is but it does not help the lives of those who are to be hanged. Proctor is now confessing, his shame great of when he committed adultery with Abigail (Miller 110). I have seen people choked before my eyes by spirits; I have seen them stuck by pins and slashed by daggers. Human nature has often proven to be ignorant and exhibit prejudice to the individuals who provide nothing but benefit for society. A Deputy governor of Massachusetts who comes to Salem to preside over the witch trials. She made false accusations that people in the village were worshipping the devil to cover what she had done. In the play written by Arthur Miller, The Crucible, John Proctor is a well respected farmer. The people who preside over the trials are corrupt. Danforth is one of the most important judges in Puritan society, so his compliance with the Puritan trials should demonstrate that he truly believes in that Judicial process. "Hale: I believe him! In The Crucible By Arthur Miller, is set in the year of 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts where a witch outbreak has jailed many of the women from a fault of one girl named Abigail. And well she might, for I have thought of her softly. 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. This quote foreshadowed the sentencing of, Danforth, although seemingly intelligent and an experienced judge, suffers from pride. Judge Danforth does not sign condemnations lightly and takes meticulous inspection of his cases to determine the guilty party. George Jacobs is hanged because of Ruth. Judge Danforth in the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller judges out of what he believes is right and then towards the end out of selfishness to save his good name. In some instances, men get exactly what they want and get their wives back. As we walk towards Judge Danforth I seem to think he is fascinated by my presence., All humans strive to appear as if they are the best people on the exterior for social gain. In Arthur Miller's The Crucible the inappropriate actions of the character of Judge Danforth, the voice of authority of the community leads to the tragedy of social disruption of the town accompanied by breakdown in communal solidarity. The Salem Witch Trials are one of the nation's most notorious cases of mass hysteria. Those appointed to administer justice often misuse their power resulting in a lack of justice. Although Proctor is incriminating himself, he is trying to reveal Abigails true character and motives to Danforth. He cries, It is my name! Knowing all of this, Hale becomes desperate to have Elizabeth save her husband and even wishes for him to sin in order to continue living as a role model for the people of Salem. Thomas Putnam prevented Bayley from taking office causing more and more animosity. The girls of Salem are also heavily controlled by their greed. Another grudge he has against the Nurses is connected to land: Another suggestion to explain the systematic campaign against Rebecca, and inferentially against Francis, is the land war he fought with his neighbors, one of whom was a Putnam (Miller 27). In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, Judge Danforth is a deputy governor of the state, and he is also the judge for the witchcraft trail. In his play, The Crucible, Arthur Miller uses the context of witch hunts in Salem to create a situation where characters are faced with a conflict in which their morality is tested. He is a preacher for the church of Salem and his niece and daughter have been bewitched or so he thinks. Judge Danforth a well respected man in the society that has the supreme rule over the court. The central aspects of reputation and empowerment are explored through a variety of literary techniques. Thomas Putnam would have gained power by having his choice for the Salem ministry chosen. Like Abigail Williams he first starts accusing easier targets to build up some false credibility to, He is a leader of the court and decides who is guilty, and who is innocent. We have the major characters, John Proctor, Rev. They are members of the court and anyone they accuse can be put to death: ?And folks are brought before them, and if they scream and howl and fall to the floor?the person?s clapped in the jail for bewitchin? 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. Danforth likes to think of himself as a fair-minded man, which is not clearly represented throughout the play. Danforths unconditional reliability in Abigail motivated the people in Salem to accused each other to save their own. 129 Words1 Page. The Nurse clan had been in the faction that prevented Bayleys taking office (Miller 27). This is also why he refuses to let news about his niece and daughter get out, he doesnt want people to overthrow his position. Lastly Thomas Putnam was another guilty party in the cause of the Salem Witch trials because of his greed for land. The accusers cannot present concrete evidences, and their wrongful convictions must be further scrutinized. Danforths bias is both a curse and a blessing, it just depends on what Danforth decides to do with the almighty power of the court. Danforth is a firm believer in the law, and will not hesitate to condemn anyone he believes to be guilty. Innocent and guilty people have been put to death underneath his Judgement, to him this demonstrates his superiority and power. Abigail has shown many transformations and showed that she is very dynamic from her emotions, to her actions, and to her experiences throughout the story of The Crucible. He is there to convene trials of the accused, so when he tells John and the others he'll "burn a hot fire,", he means it. In contrast, Hale is desperate to save the innocent from their inevitable doom because he believes life is Gods most precious gift and no principle [] may justify taking it (122). In our modern society, the public requires the power and presence of laws and justice system to protect their rights. Governor Danforth represents rigidity and an over-adherence to the law in The Crucible. It causes havoc in Salem that will lead to death in the village. Judge Danforth represents the authority and supremacy in the entire play. Essay On Judge Danforth In The Crucible | ipl.org Abigail also tends to act in her own interest when the others accuse her of witchcraft and other actions. At the beginning of the play, the argument between Putnam, Giles, and Proctor shows contentions between people over land. Later on in the story Putnam Tells his neighbor You load one. The speaker John Proctor, in the playwright The Crucible by Arthur Miller, is portrayed as a noble, and well respected Puritan man. John tries to reveal who Abigail really is but it does not help the lives of those who are to be hanged. How may I live without my, In The Crucible, Arthur Miller writes of his protagonist: In [John] Proctors presence a fool felt his foolishness instantly- and a Proctor is always marked for calumny therefore (144). Do you understand my meaning?. Furthermore, Danforth supports the thematic topic of law in The Crucible and helps the reader understand the severity of justice Miller conveys throughout the play. Many lives were taken but Abigail had no empathy for anyone who was hanged. This respect can two-sided though, for example Putnam is respected for his status within the town as a minister but it is known that he is greedy for what he cannot obtain. He arrives in Salem to oversee the trials of the accused witches with a serene sense of his own ability to judge fairly. Danforth is clearly an intelligent man, highly respected and successful. A few imperative traits that describe a responsible and mature judge are devotion, integrity, and accuracy. This is showing the the judge had complete trust in them and when John had pointed out that the things that the women were doing were kinda suspicious he questions it and realizes that the girls are faking all of it. In Arthur Miller's distinguished play called The Crucible, Judge Danforth said , "A person is either with this court or he must be counted against it" (Miller). What is it, child? I have it from an honest man who heard Putnam say it! Symbols. In the beginning John Proctor hid his horrible act of cheating inside. Explanation 1: Putnam has a history of holding grudges against people and obtaining his revenge by accusing them of witchcraft. Throughout the play, Danforth's tyrannous and stubborn personality caused many wrong decisions that he made in the court. Protagonist John Proctors choice to preserve his reputation despite knowing Abigail was a fraud early in the play can be both seen as self-preserving or preserving his values. In the twisted logic of the court, it would not be fair to the twelve already hanged if the seven remaining prisoners were pardoned., One single person can determine the outcome of a life by trial in law; said person is the judge of the court system. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller many people panicked from the witch hysteria which caused many to be accused of being witches, Judge Danforth decided what happens to the accused witches and is the most corrupted in Salem because his power of being a judge made him go overboard with his decisions on people. As the proverbial Christ figure, Proctor embodies a being that exhibits a multitude of characteristics including the confrontation of the evil in society, temptation towards evil, and conjointly, often being persecuted and made to suffer by his community. All throughout history, politicians have used religion countless times to justify behavior or simply to avoid unflattering questions. Abigail realizes how oblivious Danforth is and takes advantage of him. Danforths response to Hale works in the scene to further build the audiences perception of Danforth as irritable and urgent, yet precise, and support his determination as Deputy Governor. He arrives in Salem to oversee the trials of the accused witches with a serene sense of his own ability to judge fairly. Danforth is the governor of Massachusetts who thinks of himself as a fair man. The sheer act of fleeing away shows a sign of guilt and fear of punishment along with her act of stealing Reverend Parriss money clearly speaks a lot about the criminal character of Abigail Williams. (But Abigail, pointing with fear, is now raising up her frightened eyes, her awed face, toward the ceilingthe girls are doing the sameand now Hathorne, Hale, Putnam, Cheever, Herrick, and Danforth do the same.) The crucible, based during the Salem, Massachusetts witch trials of 1692. When I began reading act four of The Crucible, I hadnt developed strong feelings, positive or negative, about any characters. Throughout The Crucible, Miller utilizes corrupt male authority figures to show that falsely, In Arthur Millers distinguished play called The Crucible, Judge Danforth said , A person is either with this court or he must be counted against it (Miller). In Millers masterpiece we meet a wide array of characters, village people, ordained ministers, judges, and farmers. In the Crucible the will of an individual trumps the will of the majority, they both consist of moral and ethical standards set in the past and today of 2016. When the guardians of the law and order misuse their power it brings tragedy upon the town. Towards the end of Act three, while Hale is convinced that Proctor had told the truth Danforth takes side with Abigail. John is hiding his secrets from his past to protect his reputation throughout the town. Judge Danforth in The Crucible by Arthur Miller Danforth has a great deal of authority over the verdict of the accused, he has the power to judge them as not guilty. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. This dispute is important because it gives motive to the Putnams and shows their determination to get what they want. 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). Lastly, right after the Andover witchcraft trial revolt, Abigail runs away and also steals Reverend Parris's money (The crucible). The person who initiates the event receives all the benefit. Who Is Judge Danforth's Reputation In The Crucible The witchcraft accusation came from the beginning of the story when Abigail and the girls were dancing naked in the woods and chanting. However, he realised his life is worth nothing if his good name is tainted. John Proctor indubitably is a paragon of such a being as is illustrated in Millers play., Throughout the play, The Crucible, John Proctor faces many difficult obstacles that occurred in his life. The Devil has returned putting children under his control is what many people believed in Salem village in 1962. Danforth's Fault In The Crucible His sin of greed, for the power over another person and for ownership of land that is not his to. In this essay, the author. Parris believes what he does is just and that no one should oppose him. Millers use of juxtaposition highlights characters and emphasises upon their social faction. Be quiet! But it is a whore's vengeance, and you must see it now (Miller ). Danforth claims, I cannot pardon these when twelve are already hanged for the same crime. And there is none but Putnam with the coin to buy so great a piece. Now he believes Abigail completely and this furthermore explains why he is unjust and only a puppet for Abigail's evil. The Crucible is about the Salem witch trials. She thinks to dance with me on my wifes grave! Upwards of 150 people were accused and sent to trial. Who Is Judge Danforth's Character In The Crucible, To understand the will of an individual, one must understand the will of the majority. He clearly has an ego problem and will stand by his judgment even if it is wrong. In real life, Judge Danforth was an affluent farmer and held several public offices within the Puritan government. In other instances, one might just catch Danforth on a bad day and receive the wrath of his biased opinion, like Giles Corey. Judge Danforth, by siding with Abigail is unfair and is only being manipulated by Abigail. Parris believes what he does is just and that no one should oppose him. He believes firmly that the court is right and everyone that goes against what the court says is going against God. The Crucible: Deputy Governor Danforth Quotes Here Abigail is proven wrong by Judge Danforth because he is certain that a ministers family can never be approached by the devil as per the commandments. Reputation is a prime factor that drives the community of Arthur Millers The Crucible to the hangings of various innocent people. (pointing at Abigail) This girl has always struck me false! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. He is even accused of these crimes but denies their truth. Judge Danforth is a key character in Arthur Miller's The Crucible. As a result of him being driven by power and wealth he uses the witch trials to his advantage. Putnams desire for land and wealth also gives him the motivation to take the land from the Nurse family in any way he can, including blaming them for witchcraft. English 3a The trials forced people to give. In Act 3 Danforth said I judge nothing.I tell you straight, MisterI have seen marvels in this court. In Arthur Millers The Crucible the inappropriate actions of the character of Judge Danforth, the voice of. Judge Danforth, by siding with Abigail is unfair and is only being manipulated by Abigail. In The Crucible By Arthur Miller, Judge Danforth is in charge of the court sentencing many people to hang in the town of Salem. In 1692, hysteria afflicted Salem, Massachusetts and suspicions of witchcraft and devil worshipping instigated the persecution of many innocents.