The Evolution Of Reverend Hale

Zach Jones
Mrs. Sullivan
AP Language
23 January 2023
The Evolution of Reverend Hale Miller depicts a transition in Hale’s perspective to demonstrate the importance of applying reasoning. Throughout the play, Reverend Hale is one of the few characters that understands the true cause of the witch trials. His character is much more dynamic compared to others. At the beginning of the play he firmly believes that witches are attacking Salem, but by the end of the play, he takes part in trying to free the accused. The plot models a situation similar to a problem that existed during Miller’s lifetime. The play was written during the Red Scare, when people were being wrongly accused of spreading Communism throughout the United States. The Crucible

When Reverend Hale evaluates Betty at Parris’s house, some of the girls reluctantly confess to doing a ritual in the woods. People instantly assume that the ritual is the cause of Betty's strange behavior, and Tituba is seen as the culprit. Tituba immediately confesses her sin, and Hale, who was leading the accusation against her, praised her for confessing: “You are selected, Tituba, you are chosen to help us cleanse our village,” (Miller 46). Hale firmly believes that Salem is under attack by witches, and that the town needs cleansing. A person from the era of the Red Scare would read this and believe that Reverend Hale is right to jump to the conclusion of reasoning. Hale’s behavior shows a lack of reasoning and endangers the lives of the accused “witches.” In the second act of the play, Hale still firmly believes that witches are behind the strange events happening in Salem. However, the situation continued to grow, and people started bringing more evidence to Hale’s attention.The new evidence makes Hale question the legitimacy of the accusations. When Hale is questioning the Proctors, more people appear at the house. Rebecca Nurse is one of the more elderly and

Even though the play does not directly show it, this is the moment that Hale starts to question the legitimacy of the accusations. He realizes it is unlikely that Goody Nurse would take part in witchcraft. This moment of the play is important because it shows a shift in Hale’s character. When someone from the Red Scare would read this, the unfair accusation against Goody Nurse would make them question their stance on Communism. By the third act of the play, even more people have been arrested and charged with witchcraft. At this point in the play, Hale seems to be uncertain about whether or not witchcraft is being used in Salem. The scene at the court is the tipping point that finally makes Hale realize that the accusations are false. Marry Warren tells Judge Danforth that she made the poppet found at the Proctor’s house. She does this in an attempt to prove that Elizabeth is innocent, and that Abigail is a liar. Danforth begins to listen to their argument, but other characters begin to point out Mr. Proctor’s sins regarding his church attendance. The claims made against Proctor turn Danforth against him. Proctor then presents a