Danforth likes to think of himself as a fair-minded man, which is not clearly represented throughout the play. He is a preacher for the church of Salem and his niece and daughter have been bewitched or so he thinks. Do you understand my meaning?. The girls of Salem are also heavily controlled by their greed. In other instances, one might just catch Danforth on a bad day and receive the wrath of his biased opinion, like Giles Corey. 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). Abigail uses her own personal desires to get to what she wants even though many people died in the. 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. This scene in The Crucible, is important because it shows that something did in fact happen between Abigail Williams and John Proctor, and that Abigail will not accept Proctor telling her to forget everything that happened. This comes into play when others question his judgement of Abigail and the girls from the woods. Who Is Judge Danforth's Character In The Crucible 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. To begin with, usually people do not just simply wake up and say "I am going to kill . What politician hasnt used religion as an unwavering piece of justification in an argument? The extend to which Abigail has manipulated Judge Danforth is shown here. When Abigail begins another self righteous fit of possession and calls upon Heaven, Proctor can no longer stand her hypocrisy. However, what makes a democratic judicial system function is a persons right to a fair trial, which is judged by someone who is impartial and applies only the law when judging. ?where she walks the crowd will part like the sea of Israel? During this discussion in the court, he feel that abnormal tensions and that someone can or will challenge his. Similarly, in the poem Justice Denied in, Tyler Churchill He is the main judge we see in the play, and is in charge of hearing all evidence against people, and judging them. Danforth stated, "You must understand, sir, a person is either with the church or against it, there be no road between. 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. This same display of emotion from Proctor also works at convincing Danforth Abigails words are not to be trusted, and her accusations against his wife have no, Judge Danforth, he was one of the judges that served on the court when the witch trials were going on and was there during the time of when Abigail had accused all the women, and he had believed her, well the who court believed her. Judge Danforth. Putnam is completely controlled by his greed and doesn?t care who is hurt or even killed, as long as he gets more land. Judge Danforth an honorable Judge of the supreme court has easily been dominated by a seventeen-year-old Abigail, proving that he is gullible to her lies. Deputy Governor Danforth is a selfish, arrogant, and corrupt man who only cares about his own goods. What is it, child? Later in the play, Rebecca Nurse, Giles Corey and John Proctor are prosecuted. I cannot have another in my life leave me my name! Conveying that his name and is his individuality of which the society is attempting to strip from, Danforth: A Considerate Judge? As seen in both the film and book, this causes Abigail to counteract furiously and overdramatically, which begins the chaos that the town, He believes strongly in his ability to judge the character of the informants. Innocent and guilty people have been put to death underneath his Judgement, to him this demonstrates his superiority and power. Judge Danforth Character Analysis in The Crucible 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. This incident sparked anger in Mr. Putnam against the Nurse family and now he is out for revenge and he is using the trials to get it. In our modern society, the public requires the power and presence of a fair justice system to protect their rights and convince, punish the offenders. This causes the whole witch mayhem and in the end, Abigail accuses Elizabeth of witchcraft by only pointing a finger at others, making sure none of the accusations fall back on her. the putnams, abigail, and the court opposing the common good lead to social strife in salem, massachusetts. Girls! He believes strongly in his ability to judge the character of the informants. He is also very proud, and does not like to be challenged or questioned. Judge Danforth wrongly condemns and hangs townspeople, yet refuses to admit his faults. Judge Danforth, by siding with Abigail is unfair and is only being manipulated by Abigail. Analyzes how arthur miller's the crucible presents the fact that every action has a consequence. Abigail believed that Proctor actually loved her and she waited every night for him. Sadly he does nothing, still knowing what all the women are doing is suspicious he doesn 't stop the hangings and imprisonments. A few imperative traits that describe a responsible and mature judge are devotion, integrity, and accuracy. 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. To whom will the tract go to? He declares that [he] should hang ten thousand that dared to rise against the law, showcasing how he is willing to take the lives of innocent people if that is, I anxiously look around as I enter the courtroom, the benches are empty from left to right . Pathos is so effective here because it is what Abigail used to convince the court. John tries to reveal who Abigail really is but it does not help the lives of those who are to be hanged. Danforth is clearly an intelligent man, highly respected and successful. At the beginning of the play, the argument between Putnam, Giles, and Proctor shows contentions between people over land. In some instances, men get exactly what they want and get their wives back. Danforth's Fault In The Crucible Judge Danforth is a prominent character in the play, and one of main persecutors of those accused of witchcraft. Thomas Putnam prevented Bayley from taking office causing more and more animosity. God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. A constant theme through out the play is your personal reputation, maintaining a good name. Hale, Rev. “If Jacobs hangs for a witch he forfeit up his property-that’s law! His major plan is to become wealthier and destroy his oppositions in the witch hunt. Many lives were taken but Abigail had no empathy for anyone who was hanged. She was brainwashed to think he would leave his wife for her. The Putnams have a history of fighting over land with the Nurse family and this gives him a motive to go after them and their land. Lastly, right after the Andover witchcraft trial revolt, Abigail runs away and also steals Reverend Parriss money (The crucible). The people of Salem did not want to question the decision of Danforth, since they did not want to get on his bad side. Deputy Governor Danforth Character Analysis in The Crucible Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. He arrives in Salem to oversee the trials of the accused witches with a serene sense of his own ability to judge fairly. He chose to listen to the girls as a verifiable source of information.He makes the ultimate ruling on who lives or dies based on their accusations. Despite this, Judge Danforth still continues the hangings which shows that he stills trusts Abigails words and accusations. An example of this is shown in Act 1 The land war he ,Putnam, fought with his neighbors grew. Along with the final say in the putting to death of people during the Salem witch trials. His flawed personalities and hypocritical attitudes make him blind and irrational throughout the entire witchcraft, which directly causes the calamity of the town. 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. Judge Danforth, by siding with Abigail is unfair and is only being manipulated by Abigail. I have until this moment not the slightest reason to suspect that the children may be deceiving me. Millers use of juxtaposition highlights characters and emphasises upon their social faction. The crucible, based during the Salem, Massachusetts witch trials of 1692. “I bought that tract from Goody Nurse’s husband five month ago,” Proctor replies Putnam(32). Moreover, he never lets anything slide from him and tae job as a judge very seriously. 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. Throughout the play, Danforth's tyrannous and stubborn personality caused many wrong decisions that he made in the court. Judge Danforth represents the authority and supremacy in the entire play. Judge Danforth represents the authority and supremacy in the entire play. Throughout the play, Danforth's tyrannous and stubborn personality caused many wrong decisions that he made in the court. In 1692, hysteria afflicted Salem, Massachusetts and suspicions of witchcraft and devil worshipping instigated the persecution of many innocents. I believe that Danforth, the judge, is to blame. This man is killing his neighbor for their land”(96). He was born in England but emigrated to America with his family when he was 11. Towards the end of Act three, while Hale is convinced that Proctor had told the truth Danforth takes side with Abigail. Some powerful men abuse and misuse their power which brings many unfairnesses and tragedies. A judge would hear these trials and then choose life or death for these men and women. Reverend Parris highly regards his reputation more than standing up to a corrupt authority. The central aspects of reputation and empowerment are explored through a variety of literary techniques. Theocracy came together to take control over Salem. Telling the truth may seem like the right path to take, but in the Puritans society it leads to nothing but consequences. Do you understand my meaning?. 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). Judge Danforth is a key character in Arthur Miller's The Crucible. There were certain people I didnt necessarily like throughout the first three acts, but there was never a point when I became extremely frustrated with any of them. It is not just. (129). She holds most of the responsibility because she was to blame for the girls meeting with Tituba in the woods. Characters such as Rebecca Nurse and Giles Corey who had prevailing moral values remained righteous till the end. (pointing at Abigail) This girl has always struck me false! 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. Girls in this time were used to being ignored and powerless. Hale recognizes the significance of each accused on a personal level and he cannot bear to see them suffer for a crime they did not. All the judges have their eyes on me and it is not the kind of spotlight I want. Danforth may be so scared of the devil that he does not act rationally when accusations of witchcraft are made because he takes the accusation with the utmost concern. So, he uses pathos to appeal the court, tarnishing his name. It is that pride that leads to many of his mistaken and irrational judgments in. The people who preside over the trials are corrupt. The sheer act of fleeing away shows a sign of guilt and . Judge Danforth an honorable Judge of the supreme court has easily been dominated by a seventeen-year-old Abigail, proving that he is gullible to her lies. 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. He has authority over everybody in the town and all of the accused lives are in his hands. When his own life is directly under threat, Proctor was initially ready to give up his reputation (values) in order to save his life. Judge Danforth is the deputy governor of Massachusetts and he presides over the witch trials in Salem alongside Judge Hathorne. Who is this? (Miller pg 92) In this quote it tells that Danforth does not know people in Salem and insecure about his place as a judge. As said in the documents I read, the theme is "the fundamental and often universal idea of a literary artwork". Sadly he does nothing, still knowing what all the women are doing is suspicious he doesn 't stop the hangings and imprisonments. 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. The Crucible Danforth Essay He believes the people of Salem should not fear the court because the court is guided by God, so therefore there will be no corruption or unfair ruling. George Jacobs is hanged because of Ruth. Lastly, right after the Andover witchcraft trial revolt, Abigail runs away and also steals Reverend Parris's money (The crucible). Thomas Putnam profits remarkably in the Salem witch hunt . 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. To his discontent, none of these tactics work leaving his main purpose a failure. With high credibility from the public, Danforth and Hathornes decisions are trusted by the people of Salem. Thomas Putnam must have a plan. Danforth's Fault In The Crucible. "Hale: I believe him! He cries, It is my name! Arthur Miller includes Danforth to represent America's government during the Red Scare. This is the highest courtin this province, do you know it? His refusal to hear evidence that is likely to contradict his guilty verdict indicates that ultimately, Danforth considers himself the final judge of what is right and wrong, reflecting the corruption inherent in Salems authority. In Act 3 Danforth said I judge nothing.I tell you straight, MisterI have seen marvels in this court. This is displayed when Abigail fools him after screaming. Why do you-?" The conscience may be an entirely different story - a trainwreck- that doubts motives and actions. 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. 12/5/12 In Millers masterpiece we meet a wide array of characters, village people, ordained ministers, judges, and farmers. 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. He believes firmly that the court is right and everyone that goes against what the court says is going against God. Danforth believed Abigail was a redeemed sinner being used by God to indicate those still in the dark, but now Proctor has shed all propriety and revealed the true Abigail. This quote foreshadowed the sentencing of John Proctor. Abigail also lies to avoid being punished for witchcraft. In our modern society, the public requires the power and presence of laws and justice system to protect their rights. The accused people of Salem are all innocent and have nothing to do with neither witchcraft nor convening with the devil. How Is Judge Danforth Corrupt In The Crucible | ipl.org This quote shows that he knows how powerful he is in the situation and won't hesitate to flex and use that power to his advantage. I am here today to confess that I saw no spirits o and that poppet was mine and not Goody Proctors. Reputation, a mans image and how he is seen by those around him impacts his whole life, some can say that a mans reputation is their most prized position if it is good, but can be a curse if bad. 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. Deputy Governor Danforth proved to me as act four progressed that he wasnt concerned for the people of Salem, he was concerned about not allowing himself, the government or his God look weak. The Crucible: Deputy Governor Danforth Quotes This quote represented Danforth's character as he has a very narrow form of justice, either right or wrong. He feared the consequences. 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. By all means he doesn't want people to have doubt on him and himself that he sentence the innocence to death. In most of his trials, he is judging based on religious laws that are written on the side of righteousness, so his lawful morals do not prove to be a problem. 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. Symbols. Abigail and her friends saw the court believing their act, so they continued with their theatrics. The theme of hysteria is evident throughout Arthur Millers The Crucible and in everyday life and society. 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. The actions He is depicted as stubborn, as shown in his response when Giles Corey provides evidence that proves his wifes innocence. Hale acknowledges humans mortality more so than Danforth who believes his word is the final say. For instance, when Proctor visits Salem, and ends up having a conversation with Abigail, she tells him that she still has deep feelings for him. Immediately, my eyes fall down to the ground as I walk with Mr. Proctor by my side. Deputy Governor, Danforth is ignorant to the fact that he believes he is the voice of God. He is known for making the right decisions and never going against them. She made false accusations that people in the village were worshipping the devil to cover what she had done. I am willingly to confess to help Mr. Proctor protect Goody Proctor from wrongful accusations of witchcraft. The person who initiates the event receives all the benefit. 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. Abigail also tends to act in her own interest when the others accuse her of witchcraft and other actions. He would gain status and the favor of the leader of Salem, but the Nurse family stood in his way. We often seen someone is only care about himself, they dont care about others even their family and they always have excuse of it. 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. This show the influence that Danforth has on the peoples. He is a preacher for the church of Salem and his niece and daughter have been bewitched or so he thinks. He didn 't question their credibility . When he starts to realize he continues to avoid people from getting mad at him for putting innocent people in jail and killing them. Abigail cleverly takes advantage of Danforth's oblivion towards his colleague and whips up another act to further convince her claims. They did not dishonour their beliefs in exchange for their lives. Abigail Williams was the goody two shoes that kept her reputation high, until she turned on many with a single lie. Lastly Thomas Putnam was another guilty party in the cause of the Salem Witch trials because of his greed for land. 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. (He lowers his eyes from the ceiling, and now he is frightened; there is real tension in his voice.) What politician hasnt used religion as an unwavering piece of justification in an argument? The Crucible: Character of Judge Danforth Character Analysis Similarly, Danforth often acts extreme in his attempts to rid witchcraft from Salem when he says, If retaliation is your fear, know this- I [Danforth] should hang ten thousand that dares to rise against the law (Miller 129). He clearly has an ego problem and will stand by his judgment even if it is wrong. Driven by self-preservation, hysteria influences many characters actions and leads to the devastating witch trials in Salem. 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? :Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, said by Martin Luther King, Jr. Though he's more open-minded and intelligent than Judge Hathorne, Danforth believes completely in his ability to distinguish truth from fiction. Judge Danforth does not sign condemnations lightly and takes meticulous inspection of his cases to determine the guilty party. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller shapes Parriss character as a very selfish person, and everything he did was to keep his good reputation in the village and to get rid of anyone against him, which drives him mad. In order to free his wife, Proctor must convince Judge Danforth of his wifes innocence. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. 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. Judge Danforth Character Analysis in The Crucible He created more fear instead of peace within the community. 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. Abigail believed that Proctor actually loved her and she waited every night for him. However, it is later revealed that he had an affair with Abigail Williams, as she turns the whole town to chaos to be with him. Moreover, I am terrified if I say something wrong I might get hanged today. Proctor's mixed up feeling caused him to come to a conclusion and he wound up confessing his sins. Parris is a very self-centered man and is very embedded in his place in the community. Abigail is not greedy for land, she just wants the power that has been bestowed upon her and the other girls. Judge Danforth a well respected man in the society that has the supreme rule over the court. He is even accused of these crimes but denies their truth. Later on in the story Putnam Tells his neighbor You load one. The play itself is a dramatization of the Salem Witch Trials which occurred in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Yet, the mass hysteria has engulfed the court, making any use of logic useless. Danforth's arrival in Act 3 raises the stakes for the residents of Salem. 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. Salem is known for it's people and religion, one compliments the other if it pertains to what meets their requirements of respect. In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, John Proctor's stand in a society where opinion drove fate and beliefs. Child! Judge Danforth In The Crucible Essay | ipl.org The character being analyzed is Judge Danforth who represents the power of an individual within Crucible. Abigail uses her own personal desires to get to what she wants even though many people died in the. In The Crucible, John Proctor the protagonist, becomes a victim of the witch trials when his wife Elizabeth, is accused of witchcraft. We live no longer in the dusky afternoon and evil mixed itself with good and befuddled, Danforth is arguably the most hypocritical person in the Crucible. Danforth is too concerned with his reputation to admit that his judgement, at first, was clouded. While yes he was naive to all of abigail 's lies, he. Proctor is now confessing, his shame great of when he committed adultery with Abigail (Miller 110). 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). The Actions of Judge Danforth in The Crucible - 1622 Words | 123 Help Me This quote represented Danforths character as he has a very narrow form of justice, either right or wrong. In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, the flaws within the religious Puritan courts are on full display. I have seen people choked before my eyes by spirits; I have seen them stuck by pins and slashed by daggers. Parris is a static character due to his nature of unchanging personality wise throughout the crucible, he is always self-centered. Danforth is the governor of Massachusetts who thinks of himself as a fair man. “He had no right to sell it. The Crucible written by Arthur Miller in 1953 introduces us a story of this kind that injustice brought by a character named Danforth brings the social malfunction of Salem accompanied by a breakdown of humanity and faith. I discovered how his reputation became more important to him than standing up to the hysteria and saving innocent lives. In the past, the Nurses and the Putnams have had disputes: Thomas Putnams man for the Salem ministry was Bayley. When Elizabeth Proctor is accused of witchcraft by Abigail, Proctor uses logos to convince the court especially Danforth, that his wife is innocent and the girls were lying about their accusations. Thomas Putnam who has grudges against the people of Salem, and Abigail is a shameless liar who leads the accusations against the people of Salem. (She is transfixed with all the girls, she is whimpering open-mouthed, agape at the ceiling.) Danforth is a firm believer in the law, and will not hesitate to condemn anyone he believes to be guilty. The Devil has returned putting children under his control is what many people believed in Salem village in 1962. Parris, Abigail Williams, and Elizabeth Proctor. In Act 3 Danforth said I judge nothing.I tell you straight, MisterI have seen marvels in this court. And well she might, for I thought of her softly. Despite this, he chooses to believe that Abigail has probably mistaken to identify the woman associated with Lucifer. 129 Words1 Page. 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. "Danforth. However, Danforths determination often misguides his rationality. John Proctor, a character in Arthur Millers The Crucible, can be classified as one of these people. People who were accused of witchcraft are wrongfully indicted, and those transgressions must be justified. In addition, Justice failed to protect the individuals of Salem and instead was blinded by their personal jealousies, vengeance, fear, and greed. Danforths role develops the play by illustrating the stubbornness of authority in Salem during the witch trials.