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How Does Hale Change In The Crucible

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Often in literature, a character’s relationship with another person or group changes. In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, there is one change that is significant to the plot. In a small town, Salem, all of the townspeople believe that there are witches among them. Terrified, as well as paranoid, a court comes to Salem and starts weaving through everyone in the town convicting the good and the bad people. Reverend Hale was on the court until he realized that the system he believed to be fair and just was anything but. Just arriving in Salem, Rev. Hale is already the center of everyone’s attention; he was going to be the hero who finds the witch and brings back the holiness of the town. Hale was determined to find the truth and felt that he had to know everything about a person before they were convicted. When talking to John and Elizabeth Proctor, he mentions,” … I find it hard to draw a clear opinion of them that come accused before the court.” (Miller 63). He says this to assure the Proctor’s that he is getting to know everyone in Salem as this would ensure that he is being fair in his decisions. Judge Danforth, however, did not do this; therefore he has no idea what anyone is like around him. …show more content…

Everyone in Salem was shocked because these three were the kindest women in the entire town; they believed this to be so true that they all signed a document that stated that they believed in the goodness in the lady’s hearts. Hale suggested that Proctor gets a lawyer that would be able to present the document to the court in the correct way; however, Parris believed that it was an attack upon the court and Danforth believed that a lawyer automatically makes someone guilty. Reverend Hale responded with, “Is every defense an attack upon the court?” (Miller 94). Hale sees Parris’s immediate retort to any evidence is that it is only presented with bad

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When Reverend Hale first enters the story he is depicted as someone with great knowledge and authority. Proctor tells Hale on page 185, “I’ve heard you were a sensible man, Mister Hale - I hope you’ll leave some of it in Salem.” Hale is well known to people around Salem and he is known for possessing great knowledge. The people will listen to what Hale has to say, but know that his presence means that there is suspicion of witchcraft.

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Reverend Hale is the character that changes the most in Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible because his feelings on witchcraft turns from full belief to unbelievable doubt, his thoughts on Proctor changes from thinking that he is evil to thinking that he is a good and honest man, and he switches from doing God’s work to doing the Devil’s. Reverend Hale makes a huge change on his claim of witchcraft. In the beginning of the play when Reverend is called to the town of Salem to see if the reason why Betty and Ruth are unconscious is due to witchcraft he brings with him many books. When Reverend Parris sees this he makes a comment that Hale responds to him explaining his expectations. This shows that Reverend Hale is focused on one thing, finding

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The Crucible All throughout The Crucible, subtle changes among some of the characters develop. The most obvious evolution of a personality may be Reverend Hale’s swap from confident, to wary, to overcome with guilt. Reverend Hale not only makes the most evident change, but also the most prolific. As one of the more influential minds during the play, this change affects the story in a large way. When the story begins, Reverend Hale is held in high regards as an intellectual, and a trustworthy ally.

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During the witchcraft investigation, Hale believed the girls and their assertions of witchcraft against other innocent women. Proctor confessed to Hale that Abigail told him that the sickness was not an effect of witchcraft that was when reverent Hale first considered the accusations might be untrue. After Proctor tells Hale that and agrees to testify, they learn that Elizabeth Proctor has been accused. Hale tells John that he will have to testify on Elizabeth’s behalf in court, but also seems to be amazed by the accusation of Elizabeth. Hale pled for patience and consideration with John Proctor in the courts.

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In The Crucible Reverend John Hale is a very dynamic character. To understand why Reverend Hale is a dynamic character, we need to look back to act one, when Hale was new to Salem. During this point, Hale has complete faith and trust in the court system. Reverend Hale said to John Proctor, “I thought, … to put some questions at to the Christian character of this house ... if you’ll permit me” (Miller 61). Therefore Hale believes in the court so much that he helps the court find witches in Salem.

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Many aspects of one's life can change over time, people’s attitude, opinions, thoughts, the way they look, etc. There are times where people don't change. In literature and media most characters change and learn from their mistakes. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible like many plays and media, characters learn from the events that happen and change based on what happened. Reverend Parris, a character in the book, does not change, despite what events happened in Salem.

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(35) This shows that Hale is so involved in his work that he could possibly end up accusing someone who was not guilty of witchcraft. Hale seems overly conscious about his own life and his duty to serve the people to find the devil in Salem; he doesn’t seem to like the idea that he himself could be wicked. This shows that Hale too, did not show himself to be truthful and courteous when it came to the

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Throughout The Crucible, during the Salem Witch Trials, Reverend Hale slowly changes from a ‘confident man with a plan’, to a haggard preacher who seems to be losing himself amongst the chaos of these colonial trials based off of lies. After a life-altering experience, Hale is never again the same person he started out as. In the beginning of

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At the same time he is doing his duty of making her confess. Nevertheless, Reverend Hale knows that John and Elizabeth are innocent, and that Abigail Williams and the girls are guilty of witchcraft.” You are goodwife Proctor”(2. 266-267). He could have done something more than just trying to convince Judge Danforth that they are innocent.

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When Reverend Hale was first introduced into the play, it was that Reverend Parris had asked Hale to come down and assist in the pursuit of the evil that was devouring their small town whole. Hale was cautious at first in accepting situations that people believe have witchery involved. Considering he is recognized for his authority on witchcraft and the devil, Hale initially comes off as arrogant and authoritative. Although Hale never accused anyone of witchcraft, he just asked questions about it, he is more than ready to investigate and rid Salem of any demonic influences. In Act I, Hale arrives with his heavy books of authority.

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Throughout the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the character of Reverend Hale transforms considerably from Act I to Act IV. From his initial beliefs of practicing justice and preventing witchcraft to ultimately his loss of faith and his culpability and apprehension towards the events that will eventually occur in regards to the Salem hangings. Hale's transformation changes the play by sprouting distrust in the Judicial system within Salem and surrounding areas. Hales transition from a slightly smug, starry eyed, deeply devoted christian, to an untrusting, unfaithful, pessimistic man affected the play by giving us the readers a sense of empathy for Hale who had been mislead to persecute innocents instead of convicting real evil doers for the benefit of unjust, untrustworthy people such Reverend Parris and Ezekial Cheever for their own personal incentives.

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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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Hale had his thoughts changed about the people accused of doing witchcraft. Before, he saw all the people of Salem accused of being witches are guilty. However, he saw how unfair the court was being to those people and what the head of the court had been doing was wrong. “I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court! He slams the door behind him” (Miller 1213).

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The witches are on the hunt for the innocent souls of Salem with Hale stating, “The Devil is alive in Salem, and we dare not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points” (Miller 1251). Hale is determined to use God’s mighty hand against the “evil witches”. This shows that Hale is faithful to Abigail’s accusations against the common people of Salem. At first, Reverend Hale is eager to prosecute, but as more innocent people are condemned, his compliance turns into distaste. His dissatisfaction eventually turns into rage when Hale shouts, “I denounce these proceedings!”

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To begin, When reverend hale went to salem he was very confident. Reverend Hale, knew a lot about witches and spirits. Hale took witchcraft very seriously, he believed there was actually something going on in salem. Next, Hale is determined to get to the bottom of what is going on. When hale gets to salem, he is very tired and has very little motivation.

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