Callie Kendrick
Mr. Reid
English III
15 February 2023
The Change Of Man
In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, John Hale is a dynamic character; although he starts out as a confident, and a somewhat ignorant man, he later shows a strong change of bravery, and shows he’s truly a good man. Reverend Hale gets brought into the story in act one as a knowledgeable man to investigate the possibility of witchcraft in Salem. Although he begins his investigation thoroughly, he later becomes disgusted with the witch hunt and quits the courts that are jailing or hanging supposed witches or people who have committed the act of witchcraft. By the end of the play Mr. Hale believes that he will be damned for the role that he played in having innocent
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Reverend Hale, who enters Salem very confident of his greatness in discerning spirits, realizes he has caused irreparable damage. In order to right one of his many wrongs, he wishes for Elizabeth Proctor to convince John Proctor to sign a false confession in order to save his life. If John does not confess then he will hang and Hale will feel more guilt knowing Proctor is innocent. He has returned to try to convince the convicted to lie and confess to witchcraft in order to save their own lives because he now believes that lying is better than giving up one's life for no other reason than one's pride. He says in front of Elizabeth and Hathorne that he has arrived to save those who are blamed for witchcraft.This quote reflects that his perspective toward witchcraft has changed and 0signifies progress in Hale’s character, “Let you not mistake your duty as I mistook my own. I came into this village like a bridegroom to his beloved, bearing gifts of high religion; the very crowns of holy law I brought, and what I touched with my bright confidence, it died; and where I turned the eye of my great faith, blood flowed up Beware, Goody Proctor-cleave to no faith when faith brings blood. It is mistaken law that leads you to sacrifice. Life, woman, life is God’s most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it . I beg you, woman, prevail upon your husband to confess.” (Miller 206 ). Hale now understands the pride with which he entered the town, and he knows that he is partially responsible for the course the accusations and trials have taken, along with all the lives that have been taken. Hale speaks these words when he, along with Parris, tries to force Danforth to postpone the hanging and to show that he feels responsible, he tells Danforth, "There is blood on my head! Can you not see the blood on my head!!" (Miller 205) He is clearly conflicted by his