I feel that in Act Four one of the prevailing themes is brought to life not only by Danforth but also by John Proctor, this theme is the task to protect one's name. Miller uses Danforth and Proctor to show the reader that in the 1950's, (the period the book was written in) people were constantly lying, denying blatant injustices or even giving up friends to save their name. In this play people are faced with different problems but the manner in which they deal with them are all based upon saving their name.

Danforth, the head magistrate brought in to hear the Salem witch trials, is used by Miller to portray the side of, denying blatant injustices to save one's name. As head magistrate of Boston, Danforth is responsible for a majority off the witch trials taking place in Massachusetts. Being that witches do not exist he...