Danforth and Hathorne
Deputy Governor Danforth and Judge Hathorne
* The two characters could be seen as a representation of Senator McCarthy, given the similarities between them, including a deep rooted phobia.
* Parris plays a part in influencing their decisions in court – ‘The Devil lives on such confidences!’ . However, in Act 4 when it is clear to Parris that they will not confess, they do not listen to his pleas to delay the hangings, Danforth calling him ‘a brainless man’. * Their fear and insecurity cause them to be seen as ruthless and irrational judges of the case. This is shown as they listen to Parris, a very selfish religious leader who claims every defence is an attack on the court, and asks for court orders to arrest the people who signed the testament for examination.
* For example, the judges show absolutely no rationality when Putnam denies Giles’ accusation, that he “is killing his neighbours for land” and instead arrests Giles ruthlessly for contempt of the court. They are also unable to detect Elizabeth’s natural lies to save her husband and continue to persecute him, despite this being common nature.
* Danforth and Hathorne’s treatment of Proctor reveals an obsessive need to preserve the appearance of order and justify their actions as well as a hypocritical attitude about honesty. By this time in the play, it seems impossible for them to question the existence of witchcraft. In the twisted logic of the court, it would not be “fair” to the twelve already hanged if the seven remaining prisoners were pardoned.
Danforth
* ‘A grave man in his sixties, of some humour and sophistication that does not, however, interfere with an exact loyalty to his position and case.’ * Danforth emphasises his importance and power, stating that “this is the highest court of the supreme government of this province” and asking “do you know that near to four hundred are in the jails from Marblehead to Lynn, upon my signature?” * He also has a
* The two characters could be seen as a representation of Senator McCarthy, given the similarities between them, including a deep rooted phobia.
* Parris plays a part in influencing their decisions in court – ‘The Devil lives on such confidences!’ . However, in Act 4 when it is clear to Parris that they will not confess, they do not listen to his pleas to delay the hangings, Danforth calling him ‘a brainless man’. * Their fear and insecurity cause them to be seen as ruthless and irrational judges of the case. This is shown as they listen to Parris, a very selfish religious leader who claims every defence is an attack on the court, and asks for court orders to arrest the people who signed the testament for examination.
* For example, the judges show absolutely no rationality when Putnam denies Giles’ accusation, that he “is killing his neighbours for land” and instead arrests Giles ruthlessly for contempt of the court. They are also unable to detect Elizabeth’s natural lies to save her husband and continue to persecute him, despite this being common nature.
* Danforth and Hathorne’s treatment of Proctor reveals an obsessive need to preserve the appearance of order and justify their actions as well as a hypocritical attitude about honesty. By this time in the play, it seems impossible for them to question the existence of witchcraft. In the twisted logic of the court, it would not be “fair” to the twelve already hanged if the seven remaining prisoners were pardoned.
Danforth
* ‘A grave man in his sixties, of some humour and sophistication that does not, however, interfere with an exact loyalty to his position and case.’ * Danforth emphasises his importance and power, stating that “this is the highest court of the supreme government of this province” and asking “do you know that near to four hundred are in the jails from Marblehead to Lynn, upon my signature?” * He also has a