The Crucible 99

Quote 1:
Hale: "Excellency, I have singed seventy-two death warrants; I am a minister of the Lord, and I dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it" (Miller 99).

Analysis 1:
Hale's logic against the court would reign victorious in present-day. Hale demonstrates a concern for human life and is using his conscience in the correct manner. The immense obstacle that Hale has been unable to over come is the mentality of the court, specifically Danforth. He believes that he acts as though he is infallible and since he has condemned so many, change would be a disastrous product. A historical parallel can be drawn to Adolf Hitler. Hitler forcefully advocated the Aryan race. Hitler's was to cleanse the world of those who did not have blue eyes and gold hair. When Hitler's Germany had allied itself with the imperial Japan his people were bewildered. If Hitler had openly acknowledged that the Japanese were not of the Aryan race, his position would be destroyed. Instead Hitler declared the Japanese were the long lost cousin's of the Aryan race, and amazingly appeased his people. In the same way, Danforth will not cease killing witches.

Quote 2:
"In an ordinary crime, how does one defend the accused? One calls up witness to prove his innocence. But witchcraft is ipso facto, on its face and by its nature, an invisible crime, is it not?" (Miller 100).

Analysis 2:
Danforth once again believes that he sits upon an infillable throne. If witches truly did exist, then Danforth would be making an insightful point, however he is not leaving his mind open to the possiblity that witches could not exist. Unless Danforth can open his mind his logic will remain clouded and Proctor will lose this case. A syllogism for Danforth's arugment helps to properly demonstrate where he is mistaken. Witches exists. Therefore witch's acts can be determined through the victims. Abigail can determind who is a witch. The error exists in the major premise. If witches did in fact exist, then the argument would be sound.