Peer Pressure in Salem
Toby Wong
Often, people are scared to be proven wrong. In The Crucible, a play by Arthur Miller about the Salem witch hunts in the 1600s, the Judges Danforth and Hathorne are both scared that being wrong will ruin their reputations. Every defense is an attack towards the court because the judges prioritize their reputation over justice, so challenging their opinions threatens to embarrass and ruin their reputation.
The audience can tell Danforth cares about his reputation a lot because he has shown a lot of pride towards his court. When Giles tries to correct Danforth in what he should believe, Danforth says, “Disrespect indeed! It is disruption, mister. This is the highest court of the supreme government of this province, do you know it?”(p. 79). Danforth makes it clear he cares a lot about the reputation of his court by overreacting anytime he thinks he’s being challenged. This shows his pride for the court and it will later come out in his actions and words.
Danforth wants to make sure the people of Salem respect him as a confident Judge that is never wrong. When Danforth is talking about planning the hanging of the other convicted witches, he says, “Twelve are already executed, the names of these seven are given out, and the village expects to see them die this morning. Postponement now speaks floundering on my part” (p. 119) Danforth says he had promised the public 7 more hangings, and he is scared that if they find out the hangings don’t happen, it will “speak floundering.” Danforth is afraid to show hesitation and that he is unsure, because people want a Judge who is confident and shows they know what they’re doing.
Even in the end scene where John Proctor confesses to the Judge, John Proctor doesn’t want to release a written and signed confession. Judge Danforth shows he isn't satisfied until the public can see he confessed. John Proctor says, “I have confessed myself! Is there no good penitence but it be public? God does not need my name nailed upon the church! God sees my name; God knows how black my sins are! It is enough!”(p. 132). Judge Danforth still wanted John Proctor to sign a confession for the public to see so he could cancel the hangings without looking hesitant.
All defenses we’ve seen in the court threatens to embarrass and ruin the judges’ reputations, who care more about their court’s reputation than representing justice to the town of Salem. Judge Danforth is prideful of his court, and when he was challenged he got overly defensive. He also heavily values how the public sees him- he wants to be seen as a confident judge that doesn’t show hesitation and always represents justice. Sometimes people value what people think of them too much, while focusing on doing what is right would be better.
