Allusion: Reference to well known, significant events.
"Mr. Hale, as God have not empowered me like Joshua to stop this sun from rising, so I cannot withhold from them the perfection of their punishment" (Danforth pg. 1325)
The author uses this as an allusion to a reference from the Bible. In the Bible, a man named Joshua prayed to God. He prayed to him asking God if he could stop the sun for them to have more hours in the day so that he and his people could win the war, once and for all. Proctor is set to be hung in the morning. Reverend Hale wanted more time for Proctor to confess. When he tries asking for more time, Danforth says he is not empowered like Joshua to stop the sun from rising.
Danforth: Mr. Hale, as God has not empowered me like Joshua to stop this sun from rising, so I cannot withhold from them the perfection of their punishment.
Hale, harder now: If you think God wills you to raise rebellion, Mr. Danforth, you are mistaken!
Danforth, instantly: You have heard rebellion spoken in the town?
Hale: Excellency, there are orphans wandering from house to house; abandoned cattle bellow on the highroads, the stink of rotting crops hangs everywhere, and no man knows when the harlots' cry will end his life- and you wonder yet if rebellion's spoke? Better you should marvel how they do not burn your province!
Danforth: Mr. Hale, have you preached in Andoverthis month?
Hale: Thank God they have no need for me in Andover.
Danforth
Description: Proud, judging, old
In the Crucible, Danforth is the judge with the highest power. He believes Salem has been taken over by the devil. He says that if someone is innocent, they should not be afraid of court. When the play is coming to an end, he realizes what wrong he had done for hanging innocent people. The right thing he should've done would be to apologize to the families who lost a loved one but he has too much pride to do such thing.
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