Final answer:
This seems to be conflating characters from different plays. In Arthur Miller's "The Crucible", Danforth might not want Hale in jail to maintain the legitimacy of the Salem witch trials, but in Susan Glaspell's "Trifles", there is no character named Danforth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The text provided appears to be parts of the script from "Trifles", a one-act play by Susan Glaspell. Though nothing in the provided excerpts directly mentions why Danforth would not want Hale in jail, understanding the context of the play, one could infer that there may be a mix-up with the names. In Glaspell's play, there is no character named Danforth, which suggests that the student may be conflating Trifles with another play, likely Arthur Miller's "The Crucible", where Deputy Governor Danforth is a character.
In Miller's play, Danforth is a judge who presides over the Salem witch trials and may not want Reverend Hale in jail because Hale's presence supports the legitimacy of the court's actions. Hale's eventual opposition to the proceedings could undermine Danforth's authority and the perceived righteousness of the witch trials. This can lead to tension between these two characters and their different perceptions of justice and legitimacy.