The Crucible

Another example of irony is “Danforth: “You misunderstood, sir; I cannot pardon these when twelve are already hanged for the same crime, it is not just” (Miller 125). Danforth is speaking that pardoning someone is unjust when the whole situation is actually unjust itself. "If so he is, then let us go to God for the cause of it." (Miller 10). At this time, Rebecca was speaking to Putnam using a dramatic ironic twist.

~The four tests that hale administer to Proctor are on why he rarely attends church on Sabbath day; John responds by saying that his wife was ill in winter. Hale then proceed to ask why he could not come alone and John answers him by saying that he would attend church when he and the chance but when he couldn’t then he would pray in his house. Another test Hale administers is about why john only had two of his three children baptized; John answers by saying that he dislikes Rev. Parris and that he does not want his child to be baptized by Parris. Hale then administers John to quote the Ten Commandments, John answers by quoting the commandments but he forgets one which is adultery. John is also asked by hale about testifying in court but john states that he has no witness as well as not being able to prove

Towards the beginning of the book Reverend is focused on figuring out who is a witch and convict them of witchery, which is shown through logos. He says that powers of the dark “are gathered in monstrous attack upon this village. There is too much evidence to deny it.” (64). Miller uses this quote to show how Hale is willing to convict any person that appears to be apart of the devil, which adds details about Hale’s character. Hale is enthusiastic and determined as well as exceptionally respected in the town of Salem. As the book progresses, Reverend Hale’s viewpoints shift towards wanting and needing more time to convict witchcraft. Hale believes “you must hear the girl, sir,” (88). Hale manipulates pathos to convince Danforth to give Mary Warren a chance to explain her experience with spirits. In addition, Hale explains he must have more time to convict hangings (129). This is quite a big shift from the beginning of the book, but Miller employs pathos to explain the passion and desire Hale has to figure out who should be convicted of

When Mr. Hale was first introduced in the play, he maintained a positive attitude and remained hopeful. After he arrived in Salem and heard rumors of witches and the devil flying around, he informed the community that he’ll control the situation and destroy the devil. “Have no fear now—we shall find him out if he has come among us, and I mean to crush him utterly if he has shown his face!” (39). By hoping to clear up this mess, Mr. Hale reads from his books with hope that it’ll break Betty away from the devil and assuage the situation entirely. I’m like Mr. Hale in this case because when the worst may be brought upon me, I remain hopeful that I can push through it. We both won’t quit when we’re faced with a tough decision that doesn’t have a clear solution, but instead we put our effort into solving whatever the problem may be, before it gets any worse. As the play perseveres, more similarities and differences between Mr. Hale and I surface.

John Proctor had an affair with his 17- year old housemaid, Abigail, in his barn while his wife, Elizabeth, was sick. He later confessed of his wrongdoing to his wife who could forgive him of his lechery, but couldn't forget it. Abigail, being a young woman caught up in her feelings towards John, lied in court accusing Elizabeth Proctor of having been in a cohort with the Devil to get revenge for her not being able to have a relationship with John because of Elizabeth. Being

Hale is a minister of Beverly a nearby town of Salem. He comes to Salem after hearing about witchcraft. He has studied the act of witchcraft extensively. He wants to heal the town of Salem and its people of witchcraft and the devil. He starts to question the court. Hale questions Abigail. Why was Abigail dancing in the woods (155)? It is towards the end of the play that Hale really starts questioning everything. He questions his own ability. He questions the court. He even questions his faith in God.

Fast forward to the courtroom, when John is trying to save his wife. Elizabeth Proctor has been accused by Abigail of witchcraft. The Proctor’s new servant, Mary Warren, is supposed to testify against the rest of the girls. The judge, unfortunately, isn’t believing Mary. Ultimately, John is forced to confess his affair with Abigail to the judge and everyone else in the room as a last resort to save his wife. He hopes that this will be enough to convince the judge that Abigail is only trying to get Elizabeth out of the way so that she can have John to herself. It doesn’t work. Mary accuses John of being with the Devil and forcing her to lie in court. In the end, John has one choice. He can lie and sign a paper telling the town that he has broken his ties with the Devil, or he will be hanged if he truthfully denies it. Again, John Proctor must struggle with his soul. It is heart wrenching to

Sometimes the truth is hard to see, but if you look hard enough you can always find it. Reverend Hale’s intention was to help the town of Salem find the truth. He thought he found it quickly, but then realized that he was wrong. Coming to this realization caused him to look at the problem in a different way. Once he found this, he did everything that he could to help anyone that was accused. Reverend Hale changed from being accusatory to helping the accused.

John Proctor is a good farmer with a reputation to fit but is always tormented by his one sin of having an affair with Abigail. Even after his wife’s sickness, he and Elizabeth had a cold relationship due to the distrust and paranoia of

When Reverend Hale enters the county of Salem, he brings with him the demeanor of a respected authority figure. When Reverend Parris remarks about the weight of Hale’s bags, he responds that “they are weighted with authority” (Miller 34). The bag is weighed by the authority of God, who through Hale as a conduit spreads his justice upon the wicked and mercy upon the poor. Hale sets himself up with false authority, believing that his collection of books and artifacts will fend off the demons making their home in Salem. By placing himself in a position of power, he causes the citizens to believe that his word is truth, which eventually leads to the spreading of the witchcraft accusations. Next, when Thomas Putnam tells him that Betty Parris can not stand to hear the Lord’s name, he demands that the citizens listen to him as the sole judge of the affliction: “The devil is precise; the marks of his presence are definite as stones, and I must tell you all that I shall not proceed unless you are prepared to believe me if I should find no bruise of Hell upon her” (Miller 36). The dramatic irony is that the “marks” are not as “definite as stones” as Hale truly thinks. Yet, he uses his position as an “expert” to compel the

Furthermore, Reverend Hale was pushed to change also. Hale came into Salem a stranger, but knew how to fix the problem the town endured. He never questioned that God had a plan and always thought that something was either good or bad, with no gray area in between. This thinking is challenged when Elizabeth, a pure person, is accused and then later when John confesses. He knows that these people are honest and leaves the court for a period of time. In the end, Hale is a desperate man, and even though knowing there is no witchcraft present, he urges John to admit that he is not the one that should be punished. He has to question all the rules he has lived by his whole life and pursue something he knows is incorrect. In essence, Reverend Hale is pushed to his limits and is turned into a man that will be permanently in suspicion of any standards he ever thought were true.

9. What happened between Abigail and John Proctor prior to the opening of the play?

A week later, alone in their farmhouse outside of town, John and Elizabeth Proctor discuss the ongoing trials and the escalating number of townsfolk who have been accused of being witches. Elizabeth urges her husband to denounce Abigail as a fraud; he refuses, and she becomes jealous, accusing him of still harboring feelings for her. Mary Warren, their servant and one in Abigail’s circle, returns from Salem with news that Elizabeth has been accused of witchcraft but the court did not pursue the accusation. Mary is sent up to bed, and John and Elizabeth continue their argument, only to be interrupted by a visit from Reverend Hale. While they discuss matters, Giles Corey and Francis Nurse come to the Proctor home with news that their wives have been arrested. Officers of the court suddenly arrive and arrest Elizabeth. After they have taken her, Proctor tells Mary that she must go to Salem and expose Abigail and the other girls as being frauds and making up all these accusations just to gain the attention of others.

9. What happened between Abigail and John Proctor prior to the opening of the play?

In Act 1, Hale’s devotion to carrying out God’s law reveals his sense of obligation in eradicating the diabolic disturbances in Salem, despite the negative impact it may have on its citizens. Prior to entering the town, the Reverend’s motives lie in defeating the Devil, believing that this valiance will bring preservation to the Puritans. Although “his goal is light,” he believes the people of Salem have been “called upon to face what may be a bloody fight with the Fiend himself” (36). Despite wanting to face off with the devil, Hale stands strong in his belief that this will restore peace and prove to be beneficial. Consequences aside, his heavy