The Crucible Power and Authority Quotes

DANFORTH: What is it, child? (But Abigail, pointing with fear, is now raising up her frightened eyes, her awed face, toward the ceiling – the girls are doing the same – and now Hathorne, Hale, Putnam, Cheever, Herrick, and Danforth do the same.) What’s there? (He lowers his eyes from the ceiling, and now he is frightened; there is real tension in his voice.) Child! (She is transfixed – with all the girls, she is whimpering open-mouthed, agape at the ceiling.) Girls! Why do you – ?

– Arthur Miller

The Crucible, Act 3. The "yellow bird" scene in the courtroom shows how easily mass hysteria can grip an entire community and wipe out rational thought and common sense. It also shows how Abigail Williams exercises power over the girls and court officials. At the centre of the illusion is master manipulator Abby. As she imagines and invents a demonic bird on the courtroom rafters, even the learned and experienced Judge Danforth is taken in and petrified.

DANFORTH: A little while ago you were afflicted. Now it seems you afflict others; where did you find this power?
MARY WARREN: I – have no power.

– Arthur Miller

The Crucible, Act 3. During her interrogation Mary Warren claims to have no power after Abby and her girls accuse her of attacking them with her spirit. This is an example of irony, Mary being a member of the original group of accusing girls who enjoyed considerable power in the witch trials court. But now Mary feels powerless, as stated in the stage directions: "Mary Warren, utterly confounded, and becoming overwhelmed by Abigail’s – and the girls’ – utter conviction, starts to whimper, hands half raised, powerless, and all the girls begin whimpering exactly as she does."

Abby, Abby, I’ll never hurt you no more!

– Arthur Miller

The Crucible, Act 3. Mary Warren, as she sobs in court, declares her love for God and rushes to Abigail. In speaking her final line in the play to Abby, Mary acknowledges that the 17-year-old is now one of the most powerful people in Salem. Mary has changed sides again, returning back to Abby for her protection. The stage directions underline Abby’s power: "They all watch, as Abigail, out of her infinite charity, reaches out and draws the sobbing Mary to her, and then looks up to Danforth." As for Mary, she proves too weak and submissive and cowardly to stand up for what she knows is morally right. She is a symbol of evil triumphing over good.

You are pulling Heaven down and raising up a whore!

– Arthur Miller

The Crucible, Act 3. Proctor roars this at Danforth, accusing the court of going against the will of God and handing control of the trials to a whore like Abigail. He is saying that the discredited court has no moral legitimacy. One of the most powerful quotes in the play, it speaks to Abby’s power. But it also shows John’s honesty and courage in standing up to a corrupt legal and religious establishment, even at the cost of his life.

You misunderstand, sir; I cannot pardon these when twelve are already hanged for the same crime. It is not just.

– Arthur Miller

The Crucible, Act 4. Danforth shows intransigence when Parris asks him to postpone the hangings and Hale calls for pardons for those who won’t confess. With great irony, Danforth says that after executing twelve already, pardoning the rest would not be just. This is his perverted idea of him being "fair." Danforth is not concerned about justice or that the accused waiting to be hanged may be innocent. He cares more about the damage that pardoning them would do to his reputation and that of the court. Throughout the witch trials Judge Danforth shows ruthlessness and is guilty of appalling abuse of judicial power.

I will not receive a single plea for pardon or postponement. Them that will not confess will hang. 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 a floundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died till now. While I speak God’s law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering. If retaliation is your fear, know this – I should hang ten thousand that dared to rise against the law, and an ocean of salt tears could not melt the resolution of all the statues. Now draw yourselves up like men and help me, as you are bound by Heaven to do.

– Arthur Miller

The Crucible, Act 4. The unbending presiding Judge Danforth rules out any possibility of pardon or postponement in the witch trials cases. His tone is full of the power and control he exercises over the Salem court. His merciless justice is expressed in the metaphor: "an ocean of salt tears could not melt the resolution of all the statues." Danforth claims to speak for God, has ultimate power of life and death over people and is not shy to use it. After hanging twelve people already, he promises another seven hangings that day, and even boasts of hanging ten thousand if necessary. Pride and ego speak loudly in this speech, as he says postponement would show "floundering" or weakness on his part. He shows unwavering faith in his own infallibility and that of the court. He views himself as the instrument of divine justice, chosen by God to drive the Devil out of Salem and cleanse it of the evils of witchcraft. Postponement is personified in the passage as having the ability to speak.

Hang them high over the town! Who weeps for these, weeps for corruption!

– Arthur Miller

The Crucible, Act 4. Immediately after condemning Proctor to death for tearing up his false confession, Danforth shows his hubris and lust for power in this chilling line. Proud of executing innocent people for witchcraft, he wants them hanged high over Salem town for everyone to see. There is great irony in Danforth speaking of the corruption of the executed. It is Danforth and his court that are corrupt.
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