One’s reputation can be the reason for nineteenth people being hanged. This tragic event known as the Salem Witch Trials is a major historical incident. The Salem Witch Trials is the main plot in The Crucible by Arthur Miller. The Crucible is set in Salem, a Puritan town. Puritans are strict with their beliefs and consider multiple normalities such as dancing, a sin. In the beginning of the play, Abigail Williams, a teenage girl, and five other girls were caught dancing in the woods, having known that it was a sin. From the fear of getting whipped, they lied about being involved with witchcraft. Abigail soon lies and accuses Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft because she was jealous of her. The reason for her jealousy is that Elizabeth is married …show more content…
Danforth speaks the truth about his values; he would rather continue on with the hangings than stop the trials to avoid any doubt in his name. In spite of knowing deep down that all the accusations of witchcraft were false, he refuses to recognize the truth. The purpose of his denial to postponing the trials comes from the theory that he will get blamed for the twelve hangings that had already taken place. Throughout the trials, examples of Danforth’s devious acts are constantly shown, in particular the scene of him attempting to get John Proctor to sign his testimony of witchcraft. While trying to get Proctor to sign his name, Judge Danforth exclaims, “Mr. Proctor, I must have good and legal proof that you-” (Miller 1231). Judge Danforth's only reason for why he wants physical evidence of John Proctor’s confession is to prove to the people of Salem that his reason for the hangings are valid. He believes that if he has John’s name signed to his testimony it makes the trials appear logical. Elaborating on why it would add legitimacy, is because Mary Warren, the Proctor’s servant, previously accused John of witchcraft, causing his denial would cause a conspiracy in this whole case. The denial of postponement, and wanting John’s signature is all based on the opinions people of Salem will have of him. Correspondingly, he wants the approval of others so …show more content…
She even threatened the other girls to not tell the truth because she knows it would make the town see her as she really was: a manipulative liar. The significance of this quote is that Abigail follows her initial instinct to clear her name without giving a thought about who might get hurt in the process. This lets readers acknowledge that Abigail is committed to do anything to be considered as a good person. Another occurrence that presents Abigail's motives is the bird scene after John’s confession to the
To illustrate, Proctor shows how the desperation of achieving his goal provokes him to make personal confessions, including the inappropriate affair with one of the people in the witch trials, Abigail Williams. However, Judge Danforth rejects his shocking confession and leads Proctor to answer, “I have made a bell of my honor! I have rung the doom of my good name—you will believe me, Mr. Danforth! My wife is innocent, except she knew a whore when she saw one!” (3.874-877).
The Crucible is a story that took place in Salem, Massachusetts during the witchcraft trials. At the time, the town was overflowing with hysteria and fear. The society forced many people to confess to the terrible act of witchcraft or be killed for not confessing. The court had many victims who suffered from lies and deceit. Though there were many victims, there were also many people who took advantage of the hysteria.
As a result, Danforth allows Elizabeth’s execution to be delayed for a year. Parris is furious as he accuses John Proctor of trying to take over and ruin the court. John prove his role at court by showing a list of people who feel that Rebecca, Elizabeth and Martha are innocent. Danforth believes this is foolish, but a total of 91 people ended up signing the paper. Samuel convinces Danforth to not sign the paper, by forcing the victims to be summoned for question.
On account of the fear for her life, she falsely accuses innocent people of practicing witchcraft, and others soon follow suit. After she and the other girls were discovered in the forest dancing, she knew that they would be whipped and possibly hung. Abigail claims that they were bewitched, and begins to utter names of those who were 'with the devil'. The accused are forced to falsely blame other innocent people in order to angle the allegation to others to avoid punishment. This turns into complete chaos.
(To Proctor.) Will you confess yourself befouled with hell, or do you keep that black allegiance yet? What say you?”. Danforth came in the play during act three, he is the judge in the court. He would listen to both stories it was up to him on the final decision.
For John Proctor to not give Danforth his name and being hung would give him a sense of moral freedom. Proctor felt as though that through his decision of not pleading guilty, he would be able to die as a guilt-free noble Christian man. With Proctor not giving Danforth his name, Proctor was able to maintain his sense of dignity of his name and would be able to die with the assumption that his children could grow up knowing their father did not succumb to the pressure of their society and that he had died with a charitable Christian name, “I do think I see some shed of goodness in John Proctor. Not enough to weave a banner with, but white enough to keep it from such dogs” (Miller 144). Through Proctor’s success in keeping his name pure, Proctor, along with his wife Elizabeth, were able to realise that Proctor not signing his name to save his life would be more successful in his
Proctor: I did not” ( Miller 129-130). John Proctor shows self-sacrifice by not giving up names of the others and sentencing them to death by hanging based on the accusations he could make about the practicing of witchcraft. John Proctor also shows mental strength by refusing to give Danforth names when pressured and threatened by the court and the judge. This also shows the reader how much he values his name and reputation and that he doesn’t take giving up his name lightly. He values his name because his name holds power and that it is his and his
(90). All of the proof Judge Danforth listed can be easily faked, like the choking, or is something that someone could do to themselves, like slashing themselves with daggers and sticking pins in themselves if they wanted to. Judge Danforth is so convinced that Abigail is telling the truth, that not even testimony from an ex-accuser stating the falsehood of the accusations would satisfy him. Mary Warren, who works at the Proctor home, was one of the girls found dancing in the woods and was one of the girls who was on Abigail’s side, was forced to testify against Abigail in court when she returned to the Proctor house one night, informing John Proctor that his wife, Elizabeth Proctor had been accused of witchcraft. Mary Warren said to Danforth that she and the other girls were faking everything and
Because of the lies that were told, Danforth goes forth with the hangings of Proctor, Nurse, and Corey. Proctor was telling the truth and eventually got hanged even though he was not okay with lying about seeing the Devil. The theme “tell the truth even if you get in more trouble” shows that even though John Proctor was telling the truth, he was stilled hanged because Danforth chose to believe other
The claims made against Proctor turn Danforth against him. Proctor then presents a
Due to that he dismissed what Proctor said and continued the hearings, because he would no longer be an esteemed judge because he acted wrong. On pages 86 and 87, Danforth was handed a paper with 91 signatures stating good opinion of Elizabeth Proctor, Rebecca, and Martha Corey. Danforth’s response to the signatures was “…Mr. Cheever, have warrants drawn for all of these-arrest for examination…” 91 people are going to be arrested because they vouched for their friend. Due to Abigail’s disappearance Parris wanted Danforth to postpone the hanging’s, and on page 118 his response was “There will be no postponements.”
Secondly, Judge Danforth’s irrationality and ignorance brings about poor decisions on his part. One of the instances where Danforth reveals his following attitude is when he denies to even look at a deposition presented by John Proctor as described by his words “ No, no, I accept no depositions” (Miller 88). John Proctor hands him a deposition signed by Mary warren, stating that the accusations made by Abigail and the girls are false. In this regard Judge Danforth replies to John Proctor by repetitively says “No” thereby emphasizing his adamant view on this subject.
Seeing a way out he asks John for a confession as Proctor is a well respected man and if he is found out then all of the trials will be justified. When John doesn't give Danforth the confession he wants he instead says, “You are the high court, you word is good enough! Tell them I confessed myself; say Proctor broke his knees and wept like a woman; say what you will, but my name cannot-”(Miller 677), this causes Danforth to reply, “ Hang them high over the town! Who weeps for these, weeps for coruption!”(Miller 678). This implies that even when Danforth is given the opportunity to end the Witch Trials he would rather stubbornly hold on to his
Abigail Williams is one of the main characters that tend to lack integrity due to her selfishness and dishonesty. She lies about her involvement with the witches of Salem to save herself from being thrown in jail or even put to death. She also lies her way throughout the play to form a type of podium showing that she is on top. One way she showed this was when she blamed innocent people for these horrible acts in Salem. In one part during the trial abigail says “ No one was naked!
Danforth's stubbornness is shown when Proctor is presenting his evidence to the court: “Indeed not, but it strike hard upon me that she will dare come here with such a tale. Now, Mr. Procter, before I decide whether I shall hear you or not, it is my duty to tell you this. We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment”(Miller 89). This shows how Danforth has no room for consideration, especially with Procter because he sees him as someone who seeks to dismantle the court. The fire he speaks of that burns all concealment doesn't work, so he gets frustrated and gets confirmation that he is in the right from Abigail.