Find evidence from the play to support the following arguments:
Deputy Governor Danforth is more concerned with his reputation than with finding out the truth about the witches. (examine Acts 3 and 4)
Danforth makes it nearly impossible for anyone to stand up to the court. (examine Act 3)
Deputy Governor Danforth is more considered with his reputation than determining the truth behind the witchcraft that is said to be happening. He doesn't want his reputation to be spoiled by any evidence that could help the people accused of witchcraft, "no, no I accept no despostions" (pg 88.) When his credibility is questioned because he neglects evidence he asks "have you given out this story in the village?" (pg 88.) He has no concern for the people being accused in Salem as long as his reputation is protected and stable.
ReplyDelete"Danforth: And do you know that near to four hundred are in the jails from Marblehead to Lynn, and upon my signature?
ReplyDeleteFrancis: I-
Danforth: And seventy-two condemned to hang by that signature?"
Danforth makes it nearly impossible for anyone else to stand in court. One example of this is when he cuts off Francis while he's talking just to inform him on the number of people he has sent to jail or killed.
"Do you know that hear to four hundred are in jail from Marblehead to Lynn, and upon my signature." Pg 87
ReplyDeleteWorried because its his name controlling who is being put in jail. Shows he cares more about what happens with the use of his name rather than the people being harmed.
"I tell you straight, Mister- I have seen marvels in this court. I have seen people choked before my eyes by spirits; I have seen them stuck by pins and slashed by daggers. I have until this moment not the slightest reason to suspect that the children may be deceiving me." Pg 91
Danforth doesn't let anyone give an opinion because he feels since he has worked so long in the court he feels he has seen everything possible. He doesn't let anyone have an opinion unless it is his. He believes since he has seen so many cases that nothing can get by him as a fake case.
ReplyDelete"I have until this moment not the slightest reason to suspect that the children may be deceiving me. Do you 'understand my meaning?" (Act three) He worries about his reputation and people tricking him and standing up to the court. He doesn't want to be wrong. He has to be self-riteous because he doesn't want to die either because he could be wrong.
" And how do you imagine to help her cause with such contemptuous riot? No be gone. Your old age alone keeps you out of jail for this." (Act three) This shows that he doesn't like it when people have an excuse to "get out of jail free card" and wants to accuse people and put them in jail so he seems like a smart guy and taking care of the witchcraft situation.
Danforth is concerned about his reputation. He shows that on page 87 where he says, "peace, Judge Hathorne. Do you know who I am, Mr. Nurse?". He is saying he is superior And not to be messed with.
ReplyDeleteDanforth truly does make in nearly impossible for anyone to stad up in court. He shows this on page 88. He says "no, no, I accept no depositions". Basically saying he does not accept testimonies.
Griffin Thoreck
Danforth gives many examples in the text where he doesn't want to let anyone stand to him. Many times, he interrupts the person taking, to prove his point, and at one point he states specifically how many signatures he's signed for execution. He says, "And do you know that near to four hundred are in the jails from Marblehead to Lynn, and upon my signature? ... And seventy-two condemned to hang by that signature?" That shows that he doesn't want his reputation to get ruined.
ReplyDelete1.
ReplyDelete"And do you know that near to four hundred are in the jails from Marblehead to Lynn, and upon my signature?"
In this quote Danforth is worried about what people will think if they find out that he has sent almost four hundred people to jail and death.
2.
"I judge nothing. I tell you straight, mister - I have seen people chocked before my eyes by spirits; I have seen them stuck by pins and slashed by daggers. I have until this moment not the slightest reason to suspect that the children may be deceiving me. Do you understand my meaning?"
In this quote, Danforth is saying that he has seen many people attacked by witchcraft right I front of him, and nobody can tell him that it isn't real.
Danforth shows many signs of being concerned with his reputation rather than finding out whether witches are real or if the girls are just faking. "Reproach me not not with the fear in the country; there is fear in the country because there is a moving plot to topple Christ in the country!" ( page 99) he doesn't want to acknowledge the concern instead he wants to seem like he is handling the situation and doesn't need to learn about witchcraft because it is a national problem.
ReplyDeleteAlong with the fact that he was concerned with his reputation he also makes it difficult for anyone to come forward in the court. "And how do you imagine to help her cause with such contemptuous riot? Now be gone." ( page 85) he doesn't want to hear anything anyone has to say because he doesn't want them to add to the chaos or prove him wrong.
"I judge nothing. I tell you straight, Mister-I have seen marvels in this court. I have seen people chocked before my eyes by spirits; I have seen them stuck by pins and slashed by daggers. I have until this moment not the slightest reason to suspect that the children may be deceiving me. Do you understand my meaning?" (91) This quotes shows that Danforth does not want Abigail and her friends to lie to him just so that they can live. This makes Danforth think about how it would effect him and make him look like a bad person because he believed the girls.
ReplyDelete"Then let him submit his evidence in proper affidavit. You are certainly aware of our procedure here, Mr. Hale. Clear this room." (86) This quote shows that Danforth doesn't want anyone to stand up in the court because he doesn't want his reputation to be ruined.
"No,no, I accept no depositions."(Act 3,88) In this quote, Danforth is saying that he will not take something that could be possible evidence towards proving him wrong. It also shows how Danforth sees himself fit to make a decision so large that is important to the case.
ReplyDelete"Danforth: And seventy-two condemned to hang by that signature?
Francis: Excellency, I never thought to say it to such a weighty judge, but you are deceived."(Act 3,88) In this quote Danforth is trying to keep Francis quiet by the sheer power and fear that he holds with the decision of death on others.
Ndjdud
ReplyDeleteFind evidence from the play to support the following arguments
Danforth makes it nearly impossible for anyone to stand up to the court. (examine Act 3)
Evidence:
Pg 84
Giles’ Voice, roaring: I have evidence for the court!
Voices of townspeople rise in excitement.
Danforth’s Voice: You will keep your seat!
Giles Voice: Thomas Putnam is reaching out for land!
Danforth’s Voice: Remove that man, Marshal!
Giles’ Voice: You’re hearing lies, lies!
Pg 85
Danforth: And how do you imagine to help her cause with such contemptuous riot? Now be gone. Your old age alone keeps you out of jail for this.
Giles, beginning to plead: They be tellin’ lies about my wife, sir, I -
Pg 87
Danforth: And do you know that near to four hundred are in the jails from Marblehead to Lynn, and upon my signature?
Francis: I -
Danforth: And seventy-two condemned to hang by that signature?
At the bottom of page 86 Francis is talking to Danforth and trying to get Danforth to let him have a hearing. He says they have been there for three days and they haven't been able to have a hearing. Danforth's response to that Is that he has to right a plea and eventually he will be able to testify. This is a good example because the deputy governor is trying to not allow Francis to talk and stand up to the court by making him write out a complaint first
ReplyDeleteYou can tell that Danforth is really more concerned about his reputation than knowing the truth because of the tone he speaks in. It seemed as though every time someone questioned him he got very aggressive, as though he is hiding something. He is also very obsessed with his reputation, he states that "near to four hundred are in the jails from Marblehead to Lynn, and upon my signature." (87) He proceeds to add that he had "seventy-two condemned to hang by that signature," (87) he is basically threatening the people who are accused. He seems like the type of person who has one way of doing things and won't let anyone else tell him how to do it.
ReplyDeleteBlog
ReplyDeleteDanforth seems to be doing everything in his power to make it so the people he is prosecuting are guilty. When people try to show evidence he shits them down or goes off topic to avoid this or make their claim process go slower. When Giles comes in the court claiming he has evidence Danforth tells him to "keep his seat" and than proceeds to tell the marshal to " remove [Giles] from the court."
Instead of listening to the evidence right than and there like Hale advises him to do he just says "let him submit his evidence in proper affidavit." This just shows how he doesn't care about anything other than prosecuting the convicted. He doesn't want the court to be proven wrong. Another example would be when Francis try's to explain to Danforth that they have evidence that shows the girls are frauds but Danforth just says "Do you know that near four hundred are in the jails from Marblehead to Lynn, and upon my signature?" He seems to think that francis is questioning his credibility and ability to prosecute and judge a convicted man or women. He cares much more for his reputation than anything else.
"How do you know, then, that your not a witch?
ReplyDeleteIf I were I would know it.
Why do you hurt these children?
I do not hurt them! I scorn it!
I have evidence for the court!
You will keep your seat!" (84)
After Danfourth said you will keep your seat! I knew that he wouldn't allow many others to stand up against the court. Later on the page, Danfourth removes Giles from the court because he is yelling after he is told not to.
Danforth makes it nearly impossible to stand up in court because when John Proctor tried to defend himself, Danforth replies saying that a good Christian man would not need to defend himself in the court. Danforth repeadtly attacks Proctor and accusing him of not being a good Christian man, all because he did not attend church every week. This may not to be too extreme, because many people don't revolve their lives around attending church weekly, but in this case it is almost nessicary to do so. For this reason alone, Proctor almost has no chance in winning his wife's case.
ReplyDeleteDeputy Danforth is more concerned with his reputation than with finding out the truth about witches.
ReplyDeleteWhen he says that he has seen people choked by spirits, stuck by needles and slashed by daggers before his very eyes in court, he is basically saying that whatever you say to try and show me that witches aren't real, you're wrong. He doesn't care if you have proof or not. since he is in the highest position in the village, whatever he says goes. It's his way or the highway.
Danforth is very gullible when it comes to witchcraft. He is clearly biased, ultimately believing mostly everything that the witchcraft "victims" say and do (for instance, the whole "bird" incident easily swayed him against Mary). Plus, with his being the voice of the court, there's not much standing up against him at all.
ReplyDeleteYou can tell that Danforth is more concerned about his reputation than finding the truth about the witches through is sly way of not letting anyone stand up to the court. Danforth plays a power-trip over the people of salem when he is in rule. He expresses this by telling Giles to "keep your seat!" (84), and again by "Remove(ing) that man"(84). "That man" in any situation will most likely be the one that Danforth fells most threatened by. Although in some cases the people standing up to the court have the most factual evidence to help piece together the truth, Danforth quickly shuts them down (Giles) in attempt to obtain a powerful reputation.
ReplyDeleteDeputy Governor Danforth can seem to be more concerned about his reputation more than finding the truth about witches. In the book he tells people that "he has seen marvels in this court" and he has "seen people choked before my eyes by spirit." After saying that he tells Hale that he has "until this moment not the slightest reason to suspect that the children may be deceiving me." He wants people to believe him he doesn't get portrayed as a liar in the court.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of act 3 when Giles tries to tell Danforth they are hearing lies, Danforth gets him removed from the court. This is an example of how Danforth makes it hard to stand up to the court. It makes it seem like he doesn't let anybody talk if they are saying something opposite than what he believes. This is also a good example of how he cares about reputation. He doesn't want people believing the opposite that he believes because that could make people turn against him.
Deputy Danforth makes it difficult for anyone to speak in his court. He is very arrogant when he speaks. He thinks highly of himself. When talking to Giles he replys, "...before I decide whether I shall hear you or not...". This statement alone reflects on Danforth not allowing others to speak. He is an unfair individual because of this. People are unable to speak and tell their stories because of him.
ReplyDeleteDanforth does show on many occasions that he is concerned with his reputation instead of trying to find out whether or not witches are real or if the people being accused are just faking. "Do you know who I am...and do you know that neat to four hundred are in the jails forum Marblehead to Lynn, and upon my signature." (87) This quote represents how highly Danforth thinks of himself but now that he might have made a mistake with everyone he has put in jail as a proven witch his reputation can be tainted but most likely Danforth will no let that happen.
ReplyDeleteDanforth does show on many occasions that he is concerned with his reputation instead of trying to find out whether or not witches are real or if the people being accused are just faking. "Do you know who I am...and do you know that neat to four hundred are in the jails forum Marblehead to Lynn, and upon my signature." (87) This quote represents how highly Danforth thinks of himself but now that he might have made a mistake with everyone he has put in jail as a proven witch his reputation can be tainted but most likely Danforth will no let that happen.
ReplyDeleteLuke Harrison
ReplyDeleteDanforth makes it nearly impossible for people to stand up in the courtroom . When Giles has evidence about his wife defense, Danforth told him that he need to go through a procedure so that the evidence can be used. Danforth also try's to bribe people so that they want stand up to him. This is shown when Danforth tells Proctor that Elizabeth was pregnant and "She is saved at least this year, a year is long. What say you sir? It is done now?" (88). He was hoping that when Procter knew this, Procter would stop his accusations against Abigail.