How Is Reverend Hale Affected By The Traumatic Trials In The Crucible

Reverend John Hale is the minister who is called in to investigate the witch trials in The Crucible. At first he believes them, but later he returns to the town to try and stop the trials. Deputy Governor Danforth is the judge at the witch trials. He is dedicated to removing all witches. He rules by the law and will not allow exceptions or anyone to try to undermine his court.

The autumn air was crisp and cool, wind blew through the vacant fields of Salem. While children and cows alike wandered the streets, Danforth and Hathorne arrived in town to visit Reverend Parris. Discussion emerged between the men about the sudden return of Reverend Hale. Hale’s reappearance in the town was due to his guilt; he wanted those waiting to be hanged, to confess to witchcraft so they could be spared.

Quickly after Mr. Hale’s arrival in Salem, the situation regarding witchcraft escalates. Mr. Hale gets sucked into the middle of something which didn’t impact his life personally in the first place. As rumors of the devil spread around, more names known to be “seen” with him are mentioned in the court. Mr. Hale takes it upon himself to visit the houses of those who are accused of involvement in witchcraft. “No— no, I come of my own, without the court’s authority. Hear me. I know not if you are

Characters such as Macbeth or Professor Moriarty, while typically portrayed as “evil,” are morally complex characters that view themselves as protagonists, similar to Reverend Hale. In Arthur Miller’s seminal recreation of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials, The Crucible, a group of Puritan farmers, landowners, and priests collide in a tale of desperate fear and hysteria. Reverend Hale, a minister with what appears limitless knowledge of the supernatural, is thrust into an event that his expertise could never prepare him for. While Hale’s intentions to eliminate all Demonic presence from Salem appear noble, the outcome leads to the deaths of many innocents and the greater spread of hysteria. Hale creates chaos by placing himself into a leadership

He goes to the Proctors’ house after Elizabeth was accused to speak with them personally in the middle of Act Two. He says, “…I have myself examined Tituba, Sarah Good, and numerous other that have confessed to dealing with the Devil. They have confessed it” (Miller 68). He personally found them to be guilty but because of their confession, they are to be saved from hanging, unlike those who have not confessed. Miller shows this as a crucial part to Hale’s loyalty to the theocracy in that he does not question its ways. Also, soon after in the conversation with the Proctors, John Proctor responds to him saying, “And why not, they must hang for denyin’ it? There are them that will swear to anything before they’ll hang; have you never thought of that” (Miller 69). Proctor points out to Hale that most people would confess to anything if it escaped them from the gallows. Miller uses this to start the character development of Hale for the reason that this shows Hale that there is a way that he could be wrong, and therefore, the

"I am a minister of the Lord, and I dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it." (Miller 92). Reverend John Hale enters The Crucible as a character of intellect and justice. Initially Hale is eager and proud to be of service, to finally be applying his knowledge to expose witch craft and bring the people of Salem to God. Although he begins as one of the biggest driving forces of the witch trials he later becomes one of its largest antagonists.

Truth is oftentimes glazed over or obscured by the sweet words of the manipulator, and the journey to discover it is painful in the mental aspect by challenging one’s mindset or morals. To those who have faith in truth, however, it can be a savior shining a light onto the path of righteousness. In the play The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, the eloquent lies of a single girl by the name of Abigail expands into full-blown witch trials where minister Reverend Hale is brought in to examine the markings of those tainted by the Devil. Within his time spent in the ominous village of Salem, the lies exposed to him begin to query his life-long standings of the Bible and God. As he further uncovers the truths, Hale’s role in the Salem Witch Trials undergoes a dramatic transformation from a certain accuser, to a precarious bystander, to the defender of the tried.

Upon analyzing the events of the crucible I have come to the conclusion that Reverend John Hale is to blame for the Salem Witch trials. The details that have led me to conclude this is that prior to Hale's arrival in Salem, the idea of a witch among them was merely speculation, however, Reverend Hale with his infatuation of the supernatural secured the idea of a witch in Salem. Even with Hale's presence in the town, people began to question him about weird behaviors that allude to witchcraft, such as the scenario where the Putnams began to ask him about his opinion about the unfortunate demise of all of goody Putnam's children and where Giles Corey begins to question him about his wife reading literature that is not the bible. Additionally,

    Reverend Hale is a dynamic character who starts to show guilt and remorse further into the trials. His first mission in Salem was to condemn the devil in hoping that will bring Betty back. He believed Abigail and the girls were innocent. When Rebecca Nurse was brought to court, Hale starts to doubt his believes in the witch trials. In John's trial Mr. Hale says, “I denounce these proceedings, I quite this court!”(III.1164).

One of authority figure in The Crucible, was Reverend Hale. Hale went to Salem in response in need of a “spiritual doctor” to evaluate the town. The reason he was summoned was to diagnose if there was witchcraft was present, then come up with a cure by removing the “infected people”, and the people of Salem will not be satisfied until he does. In result to all the commotion of unnatural events taking in place in Salem such as: Tituba’s ability to conjure spirits from beyond the grave, dancing in the woods, the death of the seven children who belonged to Thomas and Ann Putman, Betty’s illness, the strange book that were in possession of Martha Corey, and so on. Hale starts to become

American playwright, Arthur Miller, in his play The Crucible, implies that witch hunts still exist in American society. Miller supports this claim by drawing parallels between the Salem Witch Trials and the Senator Joseph Mccarthy Trials. His purpose is to warn his readers of the dangers of mass hysteria. He uses emotional appeals and logic to convince the reader that mass “hunts” are still a danger to Americans today. The central way, however, that Miller achieves his topmost goal of displaying the hazards of Individuality vs. Ideology is through the expressive characterization of Reverend John Hale. John hale is an example of outward conformity because he believes in the devil in the beginning, he sees that the girls are

He is excited to do his duty for Salem. “This is a beloved errand for him; on being called here to ascertain witchcraft he felt the pride of the specialist whose unique knowledge has at last been publicly called for” (Miller 32,33). Reverend Hale is motivated by the thought of helping God and the people of Salem. He is not there to blame everyone he does not get along with, he is simply there to help the people and protect them from Satan. Unlike many others in the town, nothing Hale does is motivated by self need or used for personal gain.

The Salem witch trials of 1692 caused much confusion and chaos. A total of 19 were executed for supposed witchcraft. For such a travesty to occur and to end, there must be certain people that catalyze the event and others that speak out against it. In "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller, specific characters contribute to the rising hysteria of witchcraft and the disapproval of the convictions. Reverend Hale is a unique character that provides attributions to both sides. Although Reverend Hale is a catalyst to the beginning of the witch trials because he protects the authority of the court with a strict interpretation of its laws, he later realizes the falsehood of the court's accusations, and he makes a dramatic shift in his dependency on

Arthur Miller’s The Crucible emphasizes different human flaws and their dangerous impact on Salem in 1692. By analyzing the effects of arrogance, blind faith, and guilt, Miller creates the dynamic character Reverend Hale. As Hale struggles with overcoming his own flaws, he transforms from a zealous man focused on gaining respect into the voice of reason amidst the chaos and corruption of the court. Throughout his character development, Hale challenges the authority figures of Salem as he becomes more skeptical, fights against his own Puritan ideals and accepts his role as a tragic figure.

In The Crucible, there are many complex characters who shift throughout the play. Reverend Hale was one of the most complex of these characters. Hale’s changes were a direct result of the trials. Because of this Hale’s changes can be traced through his actions and motivations. Throughout the play, Reverend Hale was changed by his faith, his knowledge of the truth, and by his guilt.