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Hale, Danforth And Hubris In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

678 Words3 Pages

In Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”, Hale, Danforth, and Parris are three key characters in the play whom have varying personalities, actions, and opinions. At one point in the story they share similar views, yet their motives are vastly different. The three authority figures in the play resemble each other in some aspects yet differ greatly in their attitudes and responses towards the witch trials. Hale begins his journey with a logical outlook, but eventually realizes the mass hysteria occurring. His goal in coming to Salem was to diagnose the town with witchcraft and earn a better reputation. Initially, Hale is unaware of the personal vendettas and hunger for land that can be attributed to accusations in the village. He tells the villagers “We cannot look to superstition in this. The devil is precise, the marks of his presence are definite as stone, and I must tell you all that I shall not proceed unless you are prepared to believe me if I should find no bruise of hell upon her” (41) Hale is serious about discovering witchcraft. He is easily manipulated by the girls and their testimonies. But his stance changes. Following a conversation with Proctor …show more content…

Similar to Danforth, he is only concerned about his reputation. He warns Betty, “Now look you child, your punishment will come in its time, but if you trafficked with spirits in the forest I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it!” (10) This scene may seem like a father worried for his sick child, but he is really worried what people will say about him. “I’ll lead them in psalm, but let you say nothing of witchcraft, I will not discuss it. The cause is yet unknown. I have had enough contention since I came; I want no more. (125-126) As for this quote, Parris was attempting to save anything left of his already damaged reputation. His actions throughout the play show his true

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Gandhi once said, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” In The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, when characters are faced with differences between one another, they tend to show what they want the world to see instead of their true beliefs. Reverend Hale fights a battle between what he has been studying his whole life against what he feels is truly right. In the end he completely undergoes an important inner change, he sees the false accusations in the witch trials and changes from believing completely in witchcraft, to protecting the innocent and doing anything in his power to save their

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Reverend Hale Change In The Beginning Essay

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One key person in The Crucible with ideals that completely changed from the beginning is Reverend Hale. In the beginning Reverend Hale came in believing that he was the ultimate authority on witches. Later on in the story, Hale was shaken by the arrest of Rebecca and the eventual arrest of John where he quits the court. Hale at the end does not believe in religion, but tells others to have faith. Reverend Hale from the beginning to the end is almost a completely different person; this is shown by him coming into the story being the authority on how to find witches, then he is shaken greatly by Rebecca and John’s arrest, and finally by him not having religion but keeping faith.

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273 Words | 2 Pages

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806 Words | 4 Pages

When he first enters Salem it seems his head is held high with knowledge and determination, but he will not allow any conclusions to be made unless they are from his books that guide him through witchcraft cases. After Abigail reveals she did not see the devil, Hale immediately makes an accusation and suspiciously asks, “Why are you concealing? Have you sold yourself to Lucifer?” (Miller 1259). Because of Hale’s authority, Abigail becomes defensive and puts the blame on Tituba.

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Reverend Hale’s pride for his good intensions separates him from his morals to help the afflicted avoid punishment. Hale’s arrival in Salem sets the hysteria in motion, as he is a extremely enthusiastic and committed servant to the mission of eliminating witchcraft and the Devil’s work in society. Hale is confident that there is the presence of evil and that the townspeople should be aware that “the Devil is alive in Salem, and [they] dare not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points” (71). Hale is captivated by the idea of witchcraft that he is determined to do right in the society. He is encouraged by the apparent need for his services.

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Danforth: Judge, Jury, and Executioner Judge Danforth’s position in the crucible is the Judge assigned to the proceedings of the Salem witch trials. Instead of treating this immense responsibility with the respect and restraint that is needed, Danforth abused his power by betraying the people of Salem and the Law. He did not listen to the people of Salem defending themselves before inevitably being sent to death; and he cared more about his reputation and the law than he did about peoples’ lives. Danforth was a ruthless power over the people of Salem he demanded respect for himself and the court; and nothing was more important than that.

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1097 Words | 5 Pages

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In the beginning acts, Hale was trusting the court more than John and was a big part of handling warrants of the accused individuals along with having much confidence in himself, his knowledge of witchcraft, and knowledge of witches in Salem. In Act 2 and 3 in the play, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the character Reverend Hale was changing a lot. Throughout the first act of this play Reverend Hale had much of his trust in the court and fully believed the devil is in Salem but as the trial begins and goes on things start to change when Hale starts to question the court shown when he pleads

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Arthur Miller, a prominent twentieth century playwright, is well-known for his play The Crucible. The play opens in the Puritan town of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692. The Puritan religion is against dancing and singing because the Puritans believe these are sensuous activities. The Puritans also believe that Satan tempts human beings to carry out his work. Fear and hysteria strike Salem over the belief that the devil is in the town because Parris’s niece, Abigail Williams, was found dancing in the forest with other girls and Parris’s servant; and soon after two young girls fall sick.

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