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The Crucible: Reverend Hale

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In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, false allegations of witchcraft initiates a widespread witch hunt throughout Salem, Massachusetts during 1692. One of the play’s most prominent characters is Reverend John Hale. Reverend Hale is a Puritan minister from Beverly, Massachusetts with a superior knowledge about witchcraft. Mr. Hale journeys to Salem in order to eliminate any sorcery occurring within the town. Hale’s arrival leads to the beginning of the Salem Witch Trials, a series of hearings to investigate the witchcraft accusations. Reverend Hale’s dialogue, stage directions, and other people’s perceptions of him reveal a man characterized by self-importance; furthermore, his enthusiasm for the witch trials in the beginning and his misguided …show more content…

Despite his growing skepticism about the witch trials, Hale refuses to speak out against the trials. During Act II, Hale decides to visit Elizabeth and Proctor “without the court’s authority” (494). Hale states that he is visiting in order to “draw a clear opinion” (494) of the people who are accused. Hale’s decision to visit people without the court’s knowledge hints that he is beginning to doubt the court and wants to determine their innocence for himself. Hale’s refusal to share his doubts with the court makes him appear very cowardly. When Hale announces that Rebecca Nurse is charged, Elizabeth and Proctor are “shocked” (494) and “taken back” (495) by the news. Rebecca Nurse is known for being a virtuous and morally upright woman. Hale praises Rebecca for her many “great charities” (478) in Salem. Hale tries to reassure the couple that Rebecca is not going to be charged, but pauses afterwards. Hale’s pause indicates that he does not truly believe that the court will spare Rebecca. Hale can oppose the court’s action and defend Rebecca, but decides to remain silent once again. Hale continues to remain silent about the court’s behavior, but also prevents the other residents of Salem from confronting the court as well. Afterwards, Francis announces that Rebecca’s arrest to Proctor, Elizabeth, and Hale. Hale pleads with him to “pray calm” (498), but …show more content…

Throughout Act III, Hale is still reluctant to confront After Proctor’s arrest, Hale makes the decision to “quit this court” (525). Reverend Hale contributes to the creation of the witch trials in Salem, yet leaves the town instead of trying to help and fix the problem. Hale showcases cowardice once again with his choice to leave Salem with the issues that he help originate. By the end of the Crucible, Hale is overcome with guilt due to his role in the witch trials. A remorseful Hale returns to Salem in order to rid himself of the guilt he feels. Hale is “ exhausted, and more direct than ever” (531) when he returns to Salem. Hale’s appearance in Act IV contrasts with his appearance at beginning of the play. When Danforth asks Hale why he has returned, Hale exclaimed that “there is blood” on his head. (532) The “blood” on Hale’s head refers to the numerous people killed during the witch trials. Hale feels responsible for their deaths due to his significant role in the witch trials. Hale did not return in order to help the citizens of Salem, but instead to rid himself of his guilt. Hale wants Elizabeth to convince Proctor to lie to the court instead of being hanged as life is “God’s most glorious gift. Hale wants Proctor to commit the sin of lying, justifying it by saying it is better than ending your life due to

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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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However, as he discovers more about the accused themselves, Hale begins to doubt his initial judgment, and questions the competency of the court in honestly assessing the witch trials. Yet, in fear of choosing a side, Hale becomes tactfully neutral and desperate for the truth, as he advocates for “proof so immaculate” that the verdict would be just and indelible (188). His logical and analytical nature lends him towards Proctor’s argument, but he is compelled to stay firm with the law, especially as Danforth and Parris challenge his loyalty throughout the case. During the trials, the Reverend experiences a foreboding guilt for the first time, as he recognizes his culpability in the lives that he may have incorrectly denounced. Although he has the power to defend his conscience, his religious duty and responsibilities towards the court

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Instead of accepting the testimony of the accusers at face value, he could have questioned their motives and the validity of their claims. Hale had a reputation as an expert on witchcraft,

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A dynamic, or round, character is a major character that encounters conflict and is changed by it. Reverend Hale is a dynamic character, he undergoes a dynamic change throughout the play. Based on his transformation, Hale truly is a good man. In Act 1, Hale arrived in Salem to fix a "spiritual problem." He believed witchcraft to be very true and very prevalent in the area.

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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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In Act I of the Crucible, by Arthur Miller, we are introduced to Reverend Hale, a “spiritual doctor” who comes to Salem as an authoritative figure on the science of demonology to try and assess whether the presence of witchcraft in Salem is true or false. However, as the play proceeds, we see Hale deviating from his original purpose and ideas. His intentions shift from figuring out whether or not witchcraft is afoot in Salem to the desire of making the accused confess to save themselves from being hanged. In Act II, after Hale has seen all of the girls confessing to seeing others with the Devil, such as Elizabeth Proctor, he goes to John Proctor’s house to find out more.

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Towards the end, Hale changes from a person who carries his heavy written laws to a person who hates the court. During Act III, after Danforth arrested Proctor, Hale is so angry with the court that he yells, "I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court!” (Act 3, 120). The quote might seem really simple, but it is significant because Hale finally figures out that the court system is a failure to the society, and also figures out what he should be go after. As a result in Act 4 when Hale tries to convince Elizabeth to tell Proctor to confess, Hale says, “‘Beware, Goody Proctor –cleave to no faith when faith brings blood.

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Knowing all of this, Hale becomes desperate to have Elizabeth save her husband and even wishes for him to sin in order to continue living as a role model for the people of Salem. Hale recognizes the significance of each accused on a personal level and he cannot bear to see them suffer for a crime they did not

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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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Constantly he is being tested by if he should believe the truth or believe what he was taught. In the end Hale decides to run with the truth and bring justice to the innocent lives that have been lost. On page 1268 of The Crucible, Hale says, “Let you not mistake your duty as I mistook my own. I came into this village like a bridgegroom to his beloved, bearing gifts of high religion; the very crowns of holy law I dence, and what I touched with my bright confidence, it died; and where I turned the eye of my great faith, blood flowed up.” By the end of the play Hale is changed into a man who sees behind the lies and trickery that are occurring in the

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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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As the play progress and people confess he starts to notice that what people are saying and accusing people of is not true but just getting to people they do not like. Lastly, At the end of act 3, Hale quits the court. Hale quit the court because he knew that a lot of innocent people were getting killed for not confessing to a crime they did not

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