Danforth+notes


 * The Deputy Governor of Massachusetts and the presiding judge at the witch trials. Honest and scrupulous, at least in his own mind, Danforth is convinced that he is doing right in ridding salem of witchcraft.
 * He has a strong voice of authority in the court and will not be undermined. He questions anything anyone says to him as if it is a potential threat to both the power of the court and the integrity of the law.
 * Believes in serving god through serving out 'his' justice and believes he is doing gods work so no one is punished unjustly.
 * Danforth see's himself as fair-minded so it angers and disturbs him to find out people are afraid of the court.
 * Danforth does not want to appear weak and always wants to let others in the courtroom that he is in charge.
 * "Mister Danforth is a pretentious and selfish judge, who is extremely loyal to the rules and regulations of his position. Public opinion and his acute adherence to the law are most important to him. He seems to secretly know that the witch trials in Salem are all a lie yet will not release any of the prisoners because he is afraid of being viewed as weak and having his theocratic reputation undermined. When Proctor knowingly defies his authority by refusing to lie and sign a public confession saying that he is guilty of witchcraft and accusing others, Danforth immediately sentences to hang along with the other prisoners including Rebecca Nurse."(copied from Wikipedia)