In this passage from The Crucible, the author, Arthur Miller, uses Danforth's statement to further the allegory of the McCarthy trials. The McCarthy trials refer to a period in American history when Senator Joseph McCarthy accused people of being communists without sufficient evidence, leading to a climate of fear and unjust persecution.
Danforth's statement reflects the strict and uncompromising approach taken by those in power during the McCarthy trials. He refuses to listen to any pleas for forgiveness or delay in punishment. He states that those who do not admit guilt will be hanged. This mirrors the pressure and intimidation tactics used during the McCarthy trials to force people into confessing or accusing others.
Additionally, Danforth suggests that granting pardons or reprieves would cast doubt on the guilt of those who have already been executed. This highlights the unfairness and disregard for justice in the McCarthy trials, where accusations alone were often enough to ruin someone's reputation or livelihood.
Danforth's firm commitment to upholding the law, even if it means sacrificing innocent lives, illustrates the extreme measures taken during the McCarthy era to maintain control and suppress any perceived threats to the established order.
Overall, through Danforth's statement, Arthur Miller draws parallels between the Salem witch trials depicted in The Crucible and the McCarthy trials, showing how fear, manipulation, and the abuse of power can lead to unjust persecution and the erosion of individual rights.