Danforth Character Analysis in The Crucible Essay Example

For when does keeping one’s image become more valuable than keeping one’s integrity? Miller’s characters certainly seem to disregard the latter! In the beginning stages of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible,” Mr. Parris is introduced as a Reverend whose sole concern is the security of his job, and he has no room for the moral obligations involved. Later in the play, Miller introduces Danforth, a judge who will not risk his reputation to fulfill the rightful wants of the accused. Through these two characters, Miller points out that reputation is valued over morality in the town Salem. Arthur Miller connects such a view to the great game of politics: where one will do whatever it takes to uphold a seemingly good character, at least from the outside looking in. 

Danforth is an ignorant character who cares only for himself, and only his thoughts and opinions matter, not anyone else’s. Moreover, his pigheadedness especially takes over when his reputation is on the line. Danforth is first introduced in the court scene, and it is quickly noticed that he is not easily swayed: “Danforth is a grave man…with an exact loyalty to his position and his cause” (Miller 85). Even though Danforth takes great pride in his work, he seems to be extremely adamant in his views even without substantial evidence, which contradicts exactly what a good judge should do. For instance, when he is faced with disagreement from Giles Corey, Danforth exclaims, “Do you take it upon yourself to determine what the court shall believe?” (Miller 85). Furthermore, Danforth seems to take a differing opinion as an attack upon his character–a shot at his reputation: “Disrespect indeed! It is disruption, Mister” (Miller 85). Because he is already so favored, Danforth does not take other people’s suggestions seriously because he is convinced that the prestige of his position automatically makes him superior to others. Moreover, to side with him would be to side with the court, while to oppose him would be to take the evil side: “A person is either with this court or he must be counted against it”; to add, Danforth is so rigid that he states, “there be no road between [the two]” (Miller 94). In short, one is either pro-Danforth or against the law. This way of thinking causes Danforth to think that any argument against him is naturally unjust. For Danforth, at least in his mind, epitomizes Salem’s rule as a whole, and for him to change sides would be to tarnish his good-looking reputation because he would be turning his back on the people. However, as the story progresses, Danforth starts to grasp what is truly happening. After Abigail and the other accusers leave and Hale starts to preach in Andover, he realizes the strangeness in the situation. When presented with the fact, he says, “That’s strange,” and he “stands agape” (Miller 124, 126). Even with this fact, Danforth does not switch sides and won’t stop the hangings, for he “cannot pardon [them] when twelve are already hanged for the same crime” (Miller 129). Hale starts to argue with him, saying that his staunchness is unjust, but then the real reason why Danforth will not stop the hangings is seen when he says, “I will not receive a single plea for pardon” because “Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part” (Miller 129). Danforth, with the lives of seven people at his hands, worries only about how he will look on the outside. He wants to have no mark of struggle or even a hint of confusion in this case. Again, Danforth convinces himself that he represents the law and represents the court. When Danforth says that he would “hang ten thousand that dared to rise against the law,” he means that he would hang ten thousand to keep his reputability (Miller 129). 

Mr. Parris, a reverend already notorious for his fiery sermons, is also keen on keeping a good reputation. He is so keen on keeping it that he values it even more than his family. To start, when first faced with the prospect of his child being possessed by the Devil, Parris immediately shifts his attention to himself. His mind instantly goes to what will happen to him compared to what will happen to his daughter; moreover, he is extremely worried about how people will react to him. For example, when talking to Abigail, Parris asks her, “Do you understand that I have many enemies” (Miller 10). Betty, who is seemingly unwell, has escaped Parris’ mind totally, as he is now concerned with his own well being. This worry shifts to blame as the conversation progresses: “Now then…my own household is discovered to be the very center of some obscene practice” (Miller 11). By blaming Abigail, Parris hopes to escape some of his own. Abigail continues to deny any wrongdoing, and she even returns some of the blame. However, Parris, knowing reprehension is inevitable, continues to scold Abigail. When others enter the household after the ordeal, Parris reaches a stage of denial, hoping the incident will not become out of hand. Yet, the town is already bubbling with gossip, as seen when Mrs. Putnam asks him how high Betty flew with only taking a glance at her. With no regard for Betty, Parris now attempts to keep his good name by starting to deny the allegations thrown at him. He responds, “No, no, she never flew–,” and “there be no element of witchcraft here” (Miller 14). As the Putnam’s suspicion grows, Parris starts to become more desperate at keeping the witchcraft rumor from spreading. He pleads with them, saying that “they will howl me out of Salem for such corruption” (Miller 14). As the play moves on and two sides start to form in the case, Parris takes Abigail’s side. This side puts blame on various Salem villagers, saying that they had conjured the Devil. However, the accusations are based on shaky fabrications and meager evidence. Parris, the Harvard graduate, joins this side not because he truly believes the girls’ accusations, but because he wants to continually shift the blame away from himself. Even though the witchcraft was first seen under his household, Parris blames Proctor for bewitching the girls and attempting to overthrow the court whenever he makes a case for himself. By putting one’s well being and character under fire, Parris takes all of the attention away from himself. In fact, he is so intense and so convincing when doing this. For example, when Proctor utters a word, Parris exclaims, “They’ve come to overthrow the court,” and “You surely cannot think to let so vile a lie be spread in open court!” (Miller 88, 89).