Question

Why would Danforth ask Abigail to deny Proctor's allegations?

a) To protect Proctor's reputation.
b) To maintain order in the court.
c) To expose the truth.
d) To appease the crowd.

Answer 1

Danforth asks Abigail to deny Proctor's allegations in order to maintain order in the court, as admitting to false accusations would undermine the authority of the court during the Salem Witch Trials.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to a specific moment in Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible," where Judge Danforth would ask Abigail Williams to deny John Proctor's allegations that she is pretending to see witches. The correct answer among the options given that explains why Danforth would ask Abigail to deny the allegations is b) To maintain order in the court. This is because maintaining the integrity of the court and the trials are of utmost importance to Danforth. Admitting to false accusations would disassemble the foundation upon which the trials were built, leading to chaos and undermining the authority of the court.

When considering similar situations throughout history, it is evident that court systems tend to uphold the appearance of justice and procedure, especially in high-profile cases. Whether during the Salem Witch Trials or in ancient times, such as the trial of Socrates, it is critical that the court's authority remains unquestioned to avoid social disorder and to preserve the rule of law.