crime…now we cannot hope the witch will accuse herself…”(Miller). The tone of these remarks is strikingly lighthearted considering that the punishment for this “invisible” crime is death. The word “ hope” implies, with a bit of sarcasm, that it would be much easier for all concerned if the witches would just come forward and admit they are evil. Since this is impossible it is the responsibility of the good citizens of Salem to do it for them! Danforth refuses to pardon the prisoners or postpone their executions because he sincerely believes in their guilt. He does not want to “cast doubt” on the justification of the hangings of twelve previous condemned and the sentence of hanging for the seven remaining prisoners. It would not be “fair” to the twelve already hanged if the seven remaining prisoners were pardoned. Basically, Danforth is saying that in order to be fair to twelve unfairly hanged people, seven more have to confess to crimes they did not commit or die for them. Throughout history there are many examples where fear and hysteria pervade and wrongs are committed against innocent people. The most obvious is the idea of guilt by association, which is clearly evident in both the play and the hearings. Joseph McCarthy was a tormenter. Hundreds of innocent men and women had their lives destroyed due to his greed. Much of the suffering he directly inflicted, not to mention the pervasive fear in liberal circles of being unfairly associated with Communism he had created. Throughout his entire senatorial career, not once was he able to convict a single suspected Schatz 3“Communist” of a crime (The Fight for America). Although McCarthy was guilty of these wrongs, it must be understood that one is only as wrong as the person(s) who fall for it. America’s hysteria over communism allowed McCarthy to be so powerful. In order to reach guilt by ass...
