How Did Abigail Williams Trial Affect The Crucible

The people of salem trust and respect Judge Danforth for making right decisions and never doubting them. By the end of the trials, he realizes that he is hanging innocent people that had nothing to do with the devil. He would not risk losing his good name and the respect of the people, even when he knew Abigail was lying. He tried to get the accused to admit to witchcraft, so they wouldn’t be hanged, but the accused refused and chose to die as noble men and woman. Unfortunately, Judge Danforth did not back down either because many innocent people had already died and he would be saying that he was wrong.

Imagine living in a small town where your voice is not heard, and your life does not matter. The crucible bu Arthur Miller, tells a story about many young women who have been accused with witchcraft. Many innocent people were accused and killed while the group of people who actually attempted witchcraft were set free. In the crucible we see that Abigail Williams is a manipulative and selfish young women, who blames other people to cover up on her lies and mistakes.

In his book, “A Modest Inquiry into the Nature of Witchcraft (1702),” clergyman John Hale comes forth to confront the recent events going on at the time. Initially, Hale alludes to the questionable actions and activities of the townspeople being accused of witchcrafts, and being imprisoned as punishment. In addition, he discloses how everyone suspicious will be accused, not even young children are safe from the hands of this fate. Hale’s purpose of publishing this book was to describe the incident of the Witch Trials, and to reveal his experience of the trials, since his own wife was accused. By employing a didactic tone, Hale relays the actions of the past that targeted the Puritans and those wrongly accused of witchcrafts, so this occurrence

When a trial is going on the court needs to have solid evidence before accusing anyone of being guilty or not guilty. The Salem Witch trials was a historical event that took place in Salem, Massachusetts, where a group of girls were accused of witchcraft, and later they all testified to the activity of witchcraft, and for this they were not punished for their wrong doings; however, everyone else that was accused and did not testify were punished for telling the truth about not being involved in witchcraft. The ultimate responsibility for the deaths of the innocent Puritans is borne by Danforth because he makes decisions without having solid proof, he believes the other girls over Mary Warren , and he has all the power to decide who gets to die or survive. One reason why Danforth is responsible for the death of the innocent Salemites is because he makes decisions without having solid proof. During the whole trials Danforth does not believe anyone who does not testify to witchcraft because he believes the girls that accused the innocent puritans.

In act four, Parris is convincing Danforth to postpone the hangings of John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse to give them more time to confess yet, Danforth will not budge. As Parris begs Danforth to delay the hangings he states, “[He] cannot pardon [the hangings] when twelve [were] already hanged for the same crime” (119). Danforth is explaining he will not postpone the hangings scheduled because it would not be fair to the twelve people who already died. Danforth feels guilty for not being able to postpone the hangings. He knows that if he acted on his guilt, his image would be ruined and he would not be perceived as a fair judge.

Many ask for his mercy towards the accused and he denies it to them to keep his reputation, “... Postponement now speaks floundering on my part...” (Miller 667). 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

Another viewpoint, maybe that Judge Danforth was just trying to get the Salem witch trials to blow by quicker, but if this was true, he would´ve accepted John Proctor´s evidence showing that the girls were just playing tricks them. This would make the witch hysteria go away much quicker. Instead, he benefits himself by letting the Salem witch trials live longer. If Danforth was a good Judge he would not have acted so adamant and did his job as a judge to interpret the

Reverend Hale and Judge Danforth are two authoritative figures in The Crucible whose roles in society are to lead the community in the ways and likeness of God so that the people of Salem can, basically, be good Puritans. Despite their similar intentions, there are also blaring differences which distinctly separate the two and their beliefs. To start, both Hale and Danforth work chiefly to serve God and lead his people on Earth to live holy and just lives. When the question of the Devil and witchcraft arise within Salem, both men come to investigate and cleanse the town of evil. While Judge Danforth considers himself “a minister of the Lord” and does “not take a life without there be proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience

In the play, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, authority causes hubris within characters which allows them to persuade the witch trials negatively. Abigail Williams, the niece of Reverend Parris, gains authority through her multiple accusations during the trials. Later she uses her power to stretch the witch trials onward by threatening the judges to believe her or go against God. Abigail has caused an uproar in the town which leaves people in fear and torn between what to believe. Judge Danforth, on the other hand, uses his authority in a slightly different way to influence the trials.

Now that speculation is rising around the girls, Danforth jails those that oppose him. Proctor is put to jail, Giles Corey is tortured to death, and Mary Warren is accused of witchcraft directly after speaking out against the girls. Although Mary eventually falls to the girls and accuses Proctor of witchcraft. This exemplifies the pure strength that Danforth has within the town. When well known and respected people came to denounce the court, they were all either accused or jailed and all went into chaos.

The Salem Witch Trials were fueled by fear because no one wanted to be punished or killed. In Document B, Act 1 of The Crucible, Reverend Hale arrives to see who is behind all of the witchcraft. When he asks the girls to give him, the names of the people they saw with the Devil. “Abigail: I want to open myself. I want the light of God; I want the sweet love of Jesus!”

Danforth: Judge, Jury, and Executioner Judge Danforth’s position in the crucible is the Judge assigned to the proceedings of the Salem witch trials. 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. He did not listen to the people of Salem defending themselves before inevitably being sent to death; and he cared more about his reputation and the law than he did about peoples’ lives. Danforth was a ruthless power over the people of Salem he demanded respect for himself and the court; and nothing was more important than that.

(To Parris) How do you propose, then? Parris: Excellency, I would postpone these hangin’s for a time. Danforth: There will be no postponement.” This shows that the judge, Danforth, refused to listen to his top advisor when he told him to postpone the hangings.

Danforth stated, “You misunderstand, sir; I cannot pardon these when twelve have already been hanged for the same crime. ”(Miller 1156). After he hung twelve people, Danforth thinks that we shouldn’t stop because if they were to stop it, that would say that they were wrong in their judgement. Courageously, they kept it going, thinking that they were right and everyone who opposed them or the girls, were working with the devil. Worried that Hale was wrong, he left and came back, trying to get people to just give in, that living and lying is better than dying.

John Proctor: An Everyday Hero Heroism does not only involve people such as Batman and Superman. Heroes can be everyday people that stand up for others or act in courageous ways. A good example of this idea comes from Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, where accusations of witchcraft lead to Witch Trials in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, and ultimately the deaths of several innocent people. The main character, John Proctor, has a history he is not very proud of, as he committed adultery with a young girl named Abigail Williams. Despite this, he stands up for people in the play who cannot do it themselves, while characters like Abigail and Judge Danforth are against him.