In Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible," the character of Judge Danforth is a prominent figure. He is the deputy governor of Massachusetts and is responsible for overseeing the Salem witch trials.
At the beginning of the play, Judge Danforth seems confident and sure of himself. He is convinced of the guilt of the accused witches and is determined to root out any and all evidence of witchcraft in Salem. He is unwilling to entertain the idea that there may be any other explanation for the strange events that have occurred in the town, and he is quick to dismiss any evidence that contradicts his belief in the witches' guilt.
However, as the play progresses, Judge Danforth's character begins to change. He becomes more and more entrenched in his belief in the witches' guilt, and he becomes increasingly unwilling to listen to any opposing viewpoints. He becomes convinced that the only way to maintain order in Salem is to stamp out all dissent and eliminate anyone who may be a potential threat to the stability of the community.
Despite his best intentions, Judge Danforth's actions ultimately lead to the destruction of Salem. He sentences many innocent people to death, and his refusal to listen to any evidence that may suggest their innocence only serves to further divide the community. By the end of the play, Judge Danforth is a broken man, forced to confront the terrible consequences of his actions.
Overall, Judge Danforth is a complex character who represents the dangers of blindly adhering to a set of beliefs without being willing to consider alternative viewpoints. His story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of groupthink and the importance of being open to new ideas and perspectives.
Judge John Hathorne in The Crucible by Arthur Miller
As a clear theocracy, reputation is a most valued asset in Puritan Salem. The Role Of Judge Danforth In The Crucible 106 Words 1 Pages In our society, many people rely on the power of law and justice in order to protect themselves. In the end, even when others are moved to question the many death sentences that have been issued, Judge Danforth stands resolute and unwilling to bend. He has attempted to use force to get his way in the past but has always failed. The judges in the trial are able to see the fear that the masses produce over the rest of the people in The Crucible: Reverend Hale 1263 Words 6 Pages In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, false allegations of witchcraft initiates a widespread witch hunt throughout Salem, Massachusetts during 1692.
Abigail denies Mary's assertions that they are pretending, and stands by her story about the poppet. Deeply embittered, he accuses many of being witches, frequently is a witness against those accused, and has a daughter who at times leads the hysterical girls in the finger-pointing. When the trials begin, he is appointed as a prosecutor and helps convict the majority of those accused of witchcraft. Therefore, the false assumptions of the judges signify their ignorance and stubbornness, but their decisions are not intentionally evil because they aspire to deliver justice. He found his situation untenable. For example, when Giles Corey comes forward and accuses Mr.
Governor Danforth represents rigidity and an over-adherence to the law in The Crucible. Danforth has a great deal of authority over the verdict of the accused, he has the power to judge them as not guilty. Hathorne's fear of witches ultimately affects how he judges the people of Salem. Using her knowledge of herbs and magic, she has been secretly helping Abigail and her friends make love potions, and even conducts a seance on behalf of Ann Putnam. John is hiding his secrets from his past to protect his reputation throughout the town.
If she says no, she is lying in a courtroom. When Danforth tells the increasingly distraught Mary that he will sentence her to hang, she joins with the other girls and recants all her allegations against them, claiming John Proctor forced her to turn her against the others and that he harbors the devil. At first, Reverend Hale is eager to prosecute, but as more innocent people are condemned, his compliance turns into distaste. 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. Hathorne has conflicts with other characters when he refuses to listen to the truth and refuses to consider evidence in the trials. Later, he bristles against a question from Reverend Hale by saying, ''you surely do not doubt my justice. Each of these characters plays a different role in the government, but all are influenced by the radical faith of Puritanism of the time period.
On the morning John Proctor and Goody Nurse, two excellent citizens, are set to be executed, Judge Danforth is petitioned by many to postpone the sentences or to pardon them all together. The Crucible is a play written by Arthur Miller in 1953 about The Salem Witch Trials of 1692. 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. Act Three The third act takes place thirty-seven days later in the General Court of Salem, during the trial of Martha Corey. But as time passes, it is seen how much this character has been corrupted.
I tell you straight, Mister—I have seen marvels in this court. Martha Corey is a victim of this fear-induced blame. Giles Corey: This is a hearing. He is also a highly religious man who takes matters between God and men seriously. Let you consider, now— and I bid you all do likewise — -in an ordinary crime, how does one defend the accused? Judge Hathorne is the court judge, Governor Thomas Danforth serves as Deputy Judge, Samuel Parris is the resident reverend, and John Hale is the visiting reverend.
His character doesn't actually take the stage until the third act of the play, when John Proctor, Giles Corey, and Francis Nurse approach him with evidence in defense of their wives, who have been charged by the judges with witchcraft. Although Hale never accused anyone of witchcraft, he just asked questions about it, he is more than ready to investigate and rid Salem of any demonic influences. In the play written by Arthur Miller, The Crucible, John Proctor is a well respected farmer. This was a serious crime in 1692. But witchcraft is ipso facto, on its face and by its nature, an invisible crime, is it not? Notes and questions by Maureen Blakesley. She previously served the Proctor household, where she seduced John Proctor.
The other seven died before they were a day old, and Ann is convinced that they were murdered by supernatural means. He is the uncle of Abigail Williams, whom he brought into his house after her parents were viciously slain. The series of witch trials, led by Judge John Hathorne, illustrate a time of chaos and hysteria in Salem, Massachusetts. They do not intend to be evil, but their logic and duty to protect the colony force them to make the false conclusions. Each person has multiple faces, multiple identities.
If she says no, she is lying in a courtroom. Unlike them, Giles Corey changes for the better. Judge Danforth responds indignantly to their challenges, asking ''Do you know who I am? In his court, he places blame on anyone even remotely associated with witchcraft. He realizes his error and tries with all he has to make it right, but fails. Rebecca is a wise, sensible, and upright woman, held in tremendous regard by most of the Salem community. Hathorne is still convinced that everyone is guilty. Instead of treating this immense responsibility with the respect and restraint that is needed, Danforth abused his power by betraying the people of Salem and the Law.
