The Dynamic Character Of Reverend Hale In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

Due to the rise of witchcraft in Salem, Reverend Hale is brought to town as an expert in identifying witches. When Miller says, “he spent a good deal of time pondering the invisible world, especially since he had himself encountered a witch in his parish not long before” this shows Hale’s motivation for wanting to seek out witches, because he doesn’t want others to experience witches like he did (Miller 31). Throughout the play he examines the men and women accused and puts them on trials, many of which end in tragic deaths. Later in the play he comes to realize the court in Salem is set up in an unjust way. People are forced to admit they are something they’re not. When Hale said, “It is a lie! They are innocent”, he is choosing to save innocent people from living a lie or dying from the court’s wrongful actions of forcing people to confess to witchcraft whether they have proof or

To start off with one of the main characters of The Crucible─Reverend Samuel Parris─he is a minister of the church in the community who puts his authority as his first priority. On some circumstances, he will also try to cover up things not only for his ministry, but for his family. In the beginning of the play, he finds out about his niece Abigail practicing witchcraft and tries to get her to confess. “Parris: Now look you, child, your punishment will come in its time. But if you trafficked with spirits in the forest I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it” (10). Reverend Parris is accusing Abigail for being associated with witchcraft, at the same time it sounds like a threat to Abigail and himself only

Hale requires everyone who is accused of being a witch to go to court and agree that they are witches in order to prevent being hanged. If they admit that they aren’t a witch they would be hanged immediately. Hale seems to be very involved with the accusations, questioning those that are accused everything they know about god and the church (asking Hale to recite the 10 commandments, questioning the victims’ attendance in church, baptism, and things he sees as strange). When Hale goes to John Proctor’s house we witness the interrogation process: “I thought, sir, to put some questions as to the Christian character of this house, if you’ll permit me…I note that you are rarely in the church on Sabbath day…how comes it that only two [boys] are baptized” (2.621-671)? Later on in the play, when Proctor is testifying in court, they mystery starts to unravel inside of Hale’s head. At the end of Proctor’s trial, he yells that he no longer supports what is going on after Judge Danforth is unwilling to listen to Proctor’s testimony that the whole thing is pretense: “I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court” (3.1499-1500)! He is ashamed that everything he has been trying to find was false and made up by Abigail. We see that in the jail scene he is begging Goody Proctor to have her husband confess in order to save his life: “Will you plead for his confession or will you not” (4.486-487)? This dynamic character change truly captures how Hale has changed since the

In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, Reverend Hale’s attitude and beliefs are changed completely as the play progresses. After Reverend Parris is a witness to girls dancing in the woods and also when his daughter becomes very ill, he calls Rev. Hale to Salem. Hale’s job is to find any form of witchcraft and to get rid of it. Over the course of the play, Rev. Hale experiences a transformation in his beliefs from the beginning of the play to the end. Reverend Hale has three different emotions throughout the play. When Hale is introduced in the the beginning of the play, he is passionate and very confident about finding witchcraft and getting rid of it. In the middle of the play, Hale is frustrated and he does not know who to trust nor

Change is inevitable. Many humans fight it while others greet it with open arms and smiling faces. Most people change because of things that happen around, or to them. Negative or positive, the actions can dictate whether the individual changes for the worse or for the better. Reverend Hale in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is the perfect example of this. He changes drastically, yet gradually, throughout the entire play. Hale progresses from conceited due to his abilities, to hesitant because of the great negative impact the witch trials are beginning to hold, and finally, he becomes regretful because of his ignorance and the actions it caused.

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.

In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, Reverend Hale betrays his original motivation for coming to Salem (finding the Devil in the village), his profession, and even his beliefs. His ideas betray the Puritan concept of simple mindedness and opens the door for the what is seen in Puritan ideology as sin and the Devil. Miller manipulates Hale’s treachery to create conflict within Salem specifically between the children and adults/cynics

“Hale began to be tormented by doubts early in the proceedings” (overview). It was not until his wife was accused to be a witch, did Hale begin to realize the inconsistency with the accusations being made against certain people. Seeing John Proctor arrested for witchcraft and finding out Abigail was a fraud also raised uncertainty. Most of the reputations of the people being accused did not match up with the evil acts they were said to have done. The true reasoning behind all accusations became clear. It was all just for vengeance. As Hale said, “I am a stranger here, as you know. And in my ignorance, I find it hard to draw a clear opinion of them that come accused before the court” (Act 2). He was acknowledging that he was not very familiar with the town, therefore, it is hard for him to be able to know if the accusations are valid or just another form of revenge. This made him question all the final decisions he has made. Realizing he ended the lives of many innocent people lay a heavy burden on his shoulders. It helped Hale change for the

When he first appeared in the first act of the play, when Parris called him to Salem after Betty had been acting strange and witchcraft was first thought of, his motivation with justice was to the Church. He wanted the devil or any other evil spirits out of the human world. “Aye. But the Devil is a wily one, you cannot deny it. However, she is far from accused, and I know she will not be. (pause) I thought, sir, to put some questions as to the Christian character of this house, if you'll permit me.” The quote previous to this sentence was said by Hale in act two when he was at the Proctor's house in search of signs of witchcraft. In act four Hale had realized by then how the people who were accused of witchcraft and being dealt with the devil had been innocent and the girls accusing everyone had been lying and trying to get the attention and blame off of themselves. People were scared for their lives if one person shall speak lowly of them in Salem. “Excellency, there are orphans wandering from house to house; abandoned cattle bellow on the highroads, the stick of rotting crops hangs everywhere, and no man knows when the harlots' cry will end his life-and you wonder yet if rebellion's spoke? Better you should marvel how they do not burn your province!” People had been dying that had no reason to die. He was feeling regretful and wanted to right his wrong

Hale’s pride shows through his ability to detect “witchcraft”. He wants the people convicted of witchcraft to confess. He feels he is responsible because he begins to kill innocent people instead of tracking down the source of witchcraft. He thinks of himself

“Why it is simple I come to do the Devil’s work. I come to counsel Christians they should belie themselves. There is blood on my head! Can you not see the blood on my head!!” (201). This quote is so powerful to the audience, Hale is admitting he feels guilty. He feels he has killed innocent people. How many people had to die for him to finally realize? In act four, Hale also begs Elizabeth Proctor into getting her to make John confess. Elizabeth would argue that it isn’t her job to control him. “You know, do you not, that I have no connection with the court? I come of my own, Goody Proctor. I would save your husband’s life, for if he is taken I count myself his murdered. Do you understand me?” (202). Hale is saying he has no connection to the court's decisions. He comes to help Salem not destroy it. If John decides not to confess, and gets hung, Hale won’t think he did enough to help him, he could’ve done more. If John dies, with Hale knowing he’s an innocent man, Hale will call himself John’s

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

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

On page 1172 and 1174, Abigail Williams, Reverend Parris’ niece, accused Elizabeth Proctor, John Proctor’s wife, of witchcraft. When in reality, Abigail was sleeping with John for a time until he had ended it for the greater good. Not only does he interrogate Elizabeth, but he soon finds out from her that John had been committing adultery. Reverend Hale proceeds to ask John a series of questions, including having John recite his commandments. John was able to recite all but one of his commandments, which was adultery. When Hale leaves, he is very wary of the Proctor’s, which is when the thought of witchcraft begins to cloud his judgment. Sooner or later Hale begins to want to find and prosecute witches. He is willing to convict anyone that appears to have the devil within him/her. Yet he does not say that he will convict those who were accused. Hale says something along the lines of, “...powers of the dark are gathered in monstrous attack upon this village. There is too much evidence to deny it.” (MillerI, ) This states that Hale believes that Satan has already reigned down upon Salem and that there is so much evidence that the townspeople cannot deny the truth. As the trial progresses, that is when Hale begins to see some hypocrisy on the part of the court. He truly believes that the good, innocent people have nothing to fear because God will protect them. This is the unraveling of Reverend

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