The Crucible examines the question of authority: who has the power and on what is that power based on? What is the proper use of authority, and what is abuse of power? The judges, Danforth and Hathorne, believe they get their authority from God because Massachusetts at this time was in a theocracy, which is a government made by God. But other people got their authority just because they made evil allegations. In this play there are many views of authority, these authorities that the characters get can have an innocent person convicted and hung for being a witch.
             A view of authority is Abigail Williams because how she is an authority figure to Betty Parris and other girls in this play. Abigail controls Betty in Act I, for example Betty was forced to go to the woods with Abigail and dance with her (dancing was a form or witchcraft). Abigail told Betty that she would, "come to her in the black of some terrible night and I (Abigail) will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you (Betty)," if Betty told her dad about how Abigail drank blood "to kill Goody Proctor." Also Abigail shows authority in the court room because how she lead in the "crying out" of witches, and the women she accused were all taken into jail and later hung. At one point she had the whole town at her mercy. Abigail says in Act III, "I have been near to murdered every day because I done my duty pointing out the Devil's people."
             Another view of authority is Deputy Governor Danforth who is the one of the most powerful men in Massachusetts. He is head of the courts, which has the authority to try, convict, and execute anyone who he thinks is a witch. When Abigail "cried out" he would convict the innocent person of being a witch, then the person would be hung. He is a very strict judge, such as in Act III; he would not let Giles Corey submit his evidence unless it is in proper testimonial form. Danforth h...