Responding to a quote
Establish context
Who said it?
To whom?
When?
Why?
Point out the literary device being employed.
Explain the significance of this quote in terms of advancing the plot,
developing character, exploring conflict, conveying theme, etc.
Reflect on what the quote means to your understanding of the work.
The quote
“We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment.”
Context: Danforth says this to Proctor after Mary Warren confesses
that the calling out of names and the actions of being possessed by
spirits “were pretense’ (82).
Literary device: Verbal irony- Although Danforth claims that their
strong sense of morality and justice will “[melt] down all
concealment”, it actually blinds them to the truth of Mary Warren’s
confession.
Significance: This conveys the conflict between illusion and reality.
The authorities in Salem so firmly believe in their judgment of the
accused that they refuse to see the evidence in any other way.
The quote response
Danforth’s statement that “We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all
concealment” (83) suggests his firm belief in the justice and
righteousness of the courts of Salem. When John Proctor suggests
that Mary Warren “never saw no spirits” (81), Danforth is justifiably
alarmed for his name is signed under numerous warrants of arrests as
well as sentences for hanging. Danforth’s ironic statement highlights
the court’s inability to see the truth in Mary Warren’s confession that
all the accusations “were pretense” (82). Although Danforth may
believe that the righteousness of the court will bring out the truth, the
reality is that the righteousness of the court actually prevents it from
believing the truth in Mary Warren’s words. Rather than the hot fire
of truth melting down all concealment, it actually burns those who tell
the truth as we see at the end of Act III when Danforth tells Mary
Warren to recant her earlier statements otherwise, “[She] will confess
[her]self or [she] will hang!” (109).