Essay On Judge Danforth In The Crucible

In The Crucible play, although Abigail is the main concept of why the tragedy happened, Danforth has even more reasons to blame. The deputy governor of Massachusetts presides over the Salem witch trials. He is a stern, yet constructive man that is more interested in keeping the dignity and state of the court, than in executing justice or basically, just behaving with any sense of fairness. Miller forms this character as the play moves along as a static character, as he does not change throughout, and he believes in only what he believes. Judge Danforth, in his own mind is honest, and convinced that he is doing the right thing in the process of rooting out witchcraft.
Miller suggests that Danforth’s character, has formed to help defend and define the borderline of society, and the rules that we live by. Danforth’s character is more driven by the idea that the protection of mankind and it’s knowledge, is being expressed by his idea, that “evil is good.” His character reveals that his greatest interest is more, just keeping the reputation of the court itself. When Danforth approaches Proctor to sign a confession, it shows just how straightforward he is when it comes to the laws of the court, not giving one thought to the background, nor story of the

His excessive hubris is on display in many different situations in the play. As voice of authority in this case, his mind is set on the fact that what happens relies on him, and that is what is giving him the extra sense of power. Another point made that reveals his hubris, comes from the scene between Proctor and Danforth, when Danforth voices, “I cannot hear you. What do you say? You will confess yourself or you will hang! Do you know who I am? I say you will hang if you do not open with me!” (Act 3, page 51). The fact that he even dares to question “Do you know who I am,” shows how much Danforth expects others to see him, and even how he views