Deputy Governor Danforth Character Analysis in The Crucible

A Deputy governor of Massachusetts who comes to Salem to preside over the witch trials. Though he's more open-minded and intelligent than Judge Hathorne, Danforth believes completely in his ability to distinguish truth from fiction. He views those who disagree with him as suspect. In fact, he suspects that anyone who disagrees with him might be working "against God."

Deputy Governor Danforth Quotes in The Crucible

The The Crucible quotes below are all either spoken by Deputy Governor Danforth or refer to Deputy Governor Danforth. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Do you take it upon yourself to determine what this court shall believe and what it shall set aside? . . . .This is the highest court of the supreme government of this province, do you know it?

Related Characters: (speaker),

Page Number and Citation: 79

Explanation and Analysis:

You must understand, sir, that a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between. This is a sharp time, now, a precise time—we live no longer in the dusky afternoon when evil mixed itself with good and befuddled the world. Now, by God's grace, the shining sun is up, and them that fear not light will surely praise it.

Related Characters: (speaker),

Page Number and Citation: 87

Explanation and Analysis:

A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face, and yours, Danforth! For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your black hearts that this be fraud—God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together!

Related Characters: (speaker),

Page Number and Citation: 111

Explanation and Analysis:

Deputy Governor Danforth Character Timeline in The Crucible

The timeline below shows where the character Deputy Governor Danforth appears in The Crucible. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Offstage, Judge Hathorne and Deputy Governor Danforth question Martha Corey. Giles Corey suddenly shouts that he has evidence that Thomas Putnam is... (full context)

Francis Nurse steps forward. Danforth says that he's only heard good things about Nurse's character and is amazed to see... (full context)

...they have proof the girls are frauds. Proctor and Mary Warren come forward. Parris tells Danforth that Proctor causes "mischief," while Hale begs Danforth to hear the evidence. (full context)

Proctor tells Danforth that Mary is prepared to testify she never saw any spirits. Parris shouts that Proctor... (full context)

Danforth, shocked, considers whether to accept this testimony in court. Proctor assures him his evidence is... (full context)

After a brief conference with Hathorne, Danforth informs Proctor that Elizabeth is pregnant, and therefore can't be hanged. He asks if Proctor... (full context)

Danforth agrees to hear the evidence. First, Proctor shows him a petition signed by 91 landowners... (full context)

Danforth decides the landowners must be questioned, which infuriates Nurse, who had promised them they would... (full context)

...he had his daughter charge a man with witchcraft in order to get his land. Danforth asks for the witness's name, but Corey refuses to give the name, for fear the... (full context)

Proctor brings Mary forward. Hale says this argument is so important Danforth should let a lawyer present it to him. Danforth takes this as an insult to... (full context)

Danforth questions Mary. She's frightened, but tells Danforth that the other girls are lying. The girls... (full context)

Danforth seems to believe Mary and turns back to question Abigail, but Abigail suddenly shudders and... (full context)

Danforth sends for Elizabeth, whom Proctor says will never lie. While they wait, Danforth instructs everyone... (full context)

...says he believes Proctor, and that Elizabeth was just trying to protect his reputation, but Danforth will not hear it. (full context)

...is attacking her. The girls start repeating whatever Mary says. Mary begs them to stop. Danforth threatens Mary that she'll hang unless she confesses. Mary runs to Abigail and says that... (full context)

Danforth demands that Proctor confess his allegiance to Hell. In response, Proctor says God is dead.... (full context)

Hathorne and Danforth enter. They wonder where Parris is and are troubled to learn from Herrick that he's... (full context)

Parris enters. To Danforth and Hathorne's questions about Hale, he answers that Hale has returned to try to convince... (full context)

Danforth refuses to postpone the executions. He does say, however, that he's willing to work until... (full context)

Danforth's position doesn't satisfy Parris. He's received threats regarding his part in the trials and fears... (full context)

Hale enters, demanding pardons for the convicted. Danforth says 12 others have already been hanged for the same charge; pardons for the remaining... (full context)

Danforth does wonder, however, if they might be able to get Proctor to confess, since Elizabeth... (full context)

...God's great gift, and no belief or religion should be followed if it harms life. Danforth and Hathorne disagree. Hale shouts that the confession must be a lie since Proctor is... (full context)

Proctor decides to confess, though he knows he shouldn't. When they learn the news, Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris are overjoyed. They ask Ezekiel Cheever to write down Proctor's confession. Proctor... (full context)

Danforth asks Proctor if he's seen Rebecca with the devil. Proctor says he hasn't. Danforth then... (full context)

Danforth says the village must have proof. Proctor shouts that God has the proof, and that's... (full context)

Danforth says if the confession is a lie, then it is no confession at all. Proctor... (full context)

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Deputy Governor Danforth Character Analysis

Deputy Governor Danforth Quotes in The Crucible

Deputy Governor Danforth Character Timeline in The Crucible

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