Danforth beleieves that he is living in a "sharp time" in which good and bad are not "mixed" in people, but are easily distinguishable.

Danforth is a product of Puritan paranoia. He wants to be seen as a legitimate expert on matters of witchery. His very job and stature in society is dependant on him being able to decipher witchcraft in a person even though there is no such thing.