Reverend Hale As A Hero In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

What qualifies someone as a hero? In literature and in films, a hero is often portrayed as an admirable person who displays great acts of courage and self-sacrifice when faced with trials and dangers. In Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible, the protagonist John Proctor is often thought to be the hero of the story. However, this may not be the case. At first glance, Reverend John Hale appears to be just a supporting character to Proctor. He “is nearing forty, a tight skinned, eager-eyed intellectual” (Miller 32), who first arrives in Salem to investigate the rumors of witchcraft in town. Over the course of the play, Reverend Hale undergoes many changes, thus reflecting his true character. Reverend Hale may not be what one imagines a hero

Originally, Hale is convinced that there is witchcraft in Salem stating, “I have seen too many frightful proofs in court—the Devil is alive in Salem…” (Miller 71). This belief changes when he begins to question the validity of the court trials and starts to realize that Abigail is a fraud. When Hale fails to convince Judge Danforth of Abigail’s lies, he denounces the trial proceedings and quits the court. Hale boldly shows a sign of his opposition to the outrageous ways the court was being run. Despite not directly rebelling against the court’s authority, Hale is still striving for true justice and clearly disagrees with the unfair rulings of the court. Crushed under the guilt of “sign[ing] seventy-two death warrants” (Miller 99), Hale attempts to undo his errors by returning to Salem to convince the accused witches to confess in order to save their lives. Hale realizes what he has done wrong and attempts to make amends unlike Judge Danforth who refuses to even postpone the hangings, as “twelve are already executed…. Postponement now speaks a foundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died till now” (Miller 129). Hale, on the other hand, recognizes his injudicious actions and shows his guilt by admitting, “there is blood on my head! Can you not see the blood on my head!!” Heroes

The trials have led to Hale losing his trust in the law and beginning to question his own faith and doctrine. Although Hale’s wavering conviction may appear as though he is succumbing to despair, Hale is finally beginning to understand the reality of the situation. Hale believes he is accountable for all of the executions of the people and does not want one more life to be lost. Hale warns Elizabeth Proctor to “cleave to no faith when faith brings blood” (Miller 132), showing his doubts about his religion when his religion caused the deaths of people. After seeing so many innocent people locked up for a crime they did not commit, Hale wants to help them in the only way he knows how: lying. Puritans regard lying as a sin that could potentially lead to one going to Hell, but Hale eventually digresses from this principle. As a minister, Reverend Hale knows the influence he could have on the people to convince them that lying is for their benefit. Hale believes that “life is God’s most precious gift…” (Miller 132), therefore God would punish a liar less than someone who decides to throw away their life for the sake of their pride (Miller 132). He believes God would be angrier with someone who gave up his or her life rather than lie to save it. A hero should be willing to sacrifice his or her own beliefs if it means saving others. Ultimately, Hale surrenders the strict Puritan beliefs that