Danforth's Reputation In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

Danforth and Hathorne continuously denied believing that Abigail and the other girls were lying. He knew that his reputation would be ruined if it was true since he signed the agreements to hang the innocent people that were being accused of witchcraft. In this case, it was a false claim, resulting in countless deaths. He tried to secure his reputation and social status by denying the truth about Abigail and the other girls being frauds. His reputation was only able to be saved if Abigail and the other girls were actually telling the truth; thus, Danforth dismissed the possibility that the accusers were putting on a pretense. Reputation is extremely important for oneself since it influences the way people view a specific person. According to

By doing so, we can see that he doesn’t want to admit to the claim about Abigail and the other girls being frauds by making others confess. Proctor is a well-known, respectable figure. If Proctor refuses to confess, the people of Salem would surely be influenced into believing that witchcraft was a pretense. In hopes of preventing this from happening, Danforth stated, “Goody Proctor, you are not summoned here for disputation. Be there no wifely tenderness within you? He will die with the sunrise. Your husband. Do you understand? What say you? Will you contend with him? Are you stone? I tell you true, woman, had I no other proof of your unnatural life, your dry eyes now would be sufficient evidence that you delivered up your soul to Hell! A very ape will weep at such calamity! Have the Devil dried up all tear of pity in you?” (Miller 122). Other than Elizabeth, no one can influence Proctor’s decision on whether or not to confess. Hence, Danforth was determined in making Elizabeth persuade Proctor into confessing, which encourages more people to believe that witchcraft actually occurred. Proctor’s testimony would also motivate more people into confessing. Danforth along with the other authorities would be considered as poor judges in solving these witchcraft cases since many people had died innocently. They had been taking Abigail’s sides all along; thus, the authorities were actually helping the people responsible for the whole incident. Similarly, in the book, Othello, Othello had been manipulated into believing that Desdemona had cheated on him. Being manipulated, Othello doubted that Desdemona was telling the truth. No matter how much Desdemona explained, Othello just believed that they were excuses. According to Othello, "Presently/ Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin,/ For to deny each article with oath/ Cannot remove nor choke the strong