What Does Hale Learn In The Crucible

The Salem Witch Trials sends nineteen people to their death. These innocent people have to bear the consequences of the mistakes people in Salem make. Without their sacrifice, no one learns vital lessons in the town of Salem. Those lessons are to not always believe what the majority perceives as correct and telling the truth. The first lesson that people can learn by reading The Crucible is not to always trust what the majority of people perceive as correct. In many aspects of the play, people believe that there is witchcraft in Salem. This sends the town into mass hysteria and intensifies the situation. Though Hale, at the start of The Crucible, has preconceived ideas of the whole situation, his perspective even changes. In the beginning,

As time goes along he begins to realize his mistake in believing the majority. The majority believes that Abigail and the girls are bewitched. Therefore they should bring them in front of the court to be put on trial. Hale, after taking to time to speak to the families, understands how wrong these convictions are. Hale recognizes in Act three how corrupt the court is when they accept no reason against accusations: “Is every defense an attack upon the court?” (Miller 49). He questions Parris because he knows that Parria is only trying to save himself and his reputation. Also, innocent lives are being taken because how people can not admit to the truth. As Hale forms this idea that the court is not as reliable as it seems, Judge Danforth shuts him down. Danforth knows that he has a reputation to keep and that someone challenging him will make the town doubt him. Hale watches as lies and false accusations destroy a good man like John Proctor. In the end, Hale comprehends his mistake: “I quit this court!” (Miller 64). Hale is a clear example of how people should not always follow what the majority perceives as true. It can end up being very far from the truth. Most of the time what the majority believes is to either cover up

The truth can be very difficult for many people. Plus, telling the truth can have consequences. The more lies that people tell, the deeper they dig their own trench. Abigail Williams in The Crucible is an exact specimen of just that. In Puritan society, a girl's only purpose in life is to marry and produce offspring. Once the opportunity arises where Abigail can have some say in the town of Salem, she quickly seizes it. As she starts to spread rumors and gain power, she even begins to believe her own lie. She tries to make John Proctor understand how she is doing the greater good for the village: “I am but God’s finger, John” (Hytner). Abigail thinks that she is doing what God wants. When people go against her, they go against God. She at first goes along with what people want to hear; that there are witches in Salem. The people of the town of Salem think that she is their savior and will purify the town of these demonic beings. Then she manipulates the court to get what she wants. Abigail has always wants John Proctor to herself. This means getting rid of his wife, Elizabeth Proctor. Her newfound power over the court can help her accomplish this. Even Elizabeth, usually a soft-spoken and docile individual speaks out as she is being accused of witchcraft by Abigail: “The girl is murder! She must be ripped out the world!” (Miller 43). This proves that Abigail has gone too far. She keeps getting deeper and deeper into