The Crucible #9

Danforth: "Twelve are already executed; the names of these seven are given out, and the village expects to see them die this morning. Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died till now" (129)

Danforth knows that no matter what he does, he cannot go back on his word and make it seem to the people as though he made the wrong decision in condeming those that died. If he did so, he would be the one that would be condemned because the society needs strong leadership. Danforth is just trying to keep his good name which is what everyone else in the book was trying to do the whole time. Everyone was trying to sound credible in their accusations and keep themselves out of the spotlight because almost everyone besides Proctor was a coward in their actions.

Elizabeth: "So he [Giles] stand mute, and died a Christian under the law" (135)

This does not surprise me about Giles. His consistently outspoken attitude proves how he is one of the only characters that does not act cowardly. He stood up for what was right and what was supposedly believed in Salem, but he was rejected because everyone else was looking to save themselves.