Thesis
The social influences, spiritual authority, and bitter vengeance that Judge Danforth, Abigail Williams, and the average citizen of Salem strongly portrayed exemplifies the failure of a non-secular society and a community built on God that was destined to fail.
Judge Danforth
Danforth refuses to postpone the hearings until they investigate further.
Abigail may have got the ball rolling or so to speak, but Danforth could have stopped the hangings and trials under his own word.
The preservation of his reputation seems to be more important than preserving the townspeople's lives. he maintains his stand that he can not withdraw his decision when so many people have already does for the same cause.