The Salem Witch Trials was a time period where tension and controversy arose from personal religious pursuits. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller used the character of Reverend Hale, a minister, and expert on the demonic arts, to display the raw injustice and hypocrisy manifested from his bibliocentric beliefs. Hale’s confident, formulaic view of Christian faith and witchcraft gradually changed. But as He came to Salem with much devotion to the church and with good intentions, he soon realizes the very evil he is committed to brought chaos and the overpower of authority. Despite Reverend Hale’s deep religious convictions, his naivety showed the fallibility of his judgment of others. Before raw injustice and hysteria prevailed in the Salem Witch …show more content…
He himself specifically said that “we cannot look to superstition in this”, but he still continues to inadvertently ease their lies by admitting, “The Devil is precise,” and “the marks of his presence are definite as stone (38).” This presents the irony of the idea that the Devil is inherently superstitious, because Hale never fathom superstition being the root of any problem, yet he used lies and supernatural evidence as an elaborate hoax. He proceeded to show unwavering dedication to the absolute power of the church and his affiliation to God’s will. And true to his devotion, he announced his duty was “to add what [he] may to the godly wisdom of the court (67). However when his faith was questioned by Proctor, signs of guilt and realization started to appear. But he immediately refutes by arguing, “No man may longer doubt the powers of the dark are gathered in monstrous attack upon the village. There is too much evidence now to deny it (64).” Though there’s some sense in his word, he’s faith is too shaken that he did not dare to admit the truth or “not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points” because there’s enough evidence that “the Devil is alive in Salem” (71). But as he continues to make false allegations, he soon becomes aware of the lies that rooted from the spiral of fear, and gradually loses his naivety in regards to dedicating himself to religious