Character Analysis Of Hale In The Crucible '

Reverend Hale is a character that changes as the play goes though. Mr.Hale thinks he has one intention and one only but later he changes opinion and understanding throughout the entire play. When Mr.Hale arrives he is excited and looking forward in uncovering witchery in salem. He was prideful of his studies as well and had many books to bring with him to Salem. He greets the people and he even says “I had not expected such distinguished company” on page 1149. Then he hears about the child trying to fly and that's where he becomes serious. Putnam says it's witchcraft but Mr.Hale says not to look at superstition yet on bottom of page 1149. This shows he had some common sense to not go pointing fingers just yet.
Mr. Hale is now trying to get
as much information about how the towns condition is with God. He finds out about the dancing the girls were doing in the woods, around a kettle, with Tituba singing. Mr. Hale starts question Abigail until she brakes in and says tituba is a witch and made her do things for the devil. Tituba is interrogated by Mr.Hale and after that, all the children start accusing other people of witchcraft. Mr.Hale then takes action and calls the Marshal to bring iron known as chains. Mr.Hale is excited, curious, determined and motivated to solve this witchery epidemic. That's when the curtain falls and so the end of act one.
Mr.
Hale is busy writing and having court sessions with many of the accused witches to confess and then Goody Proctor's name is mentioned in court. Hale then later goes to Mr. and Ms. Proctor's house to question them but was not for business of the court and he speaks in a non hostile tone. It seems like he came to question them only and if something came up then it would be handled. In the play he questions them first on why they have missed church. But Proctor defends himself well. At this point there was a sense of doubt seeded in Mr. Hale about the accusations. But then Proctor fails to recite all the ten commandments and so thinking there ship has sunk. Mr. Hale simply says “Theology, sir, is a fortress: no crack in a fortress may be accounted small.” Mr. Hale bids then adue and is about to leave when Goody Proctor tells Mr. Proctor to tell him about Abigail speaking to him about how Mr.Parris discovered the girls “sportin” in the woods and how they were startled and it had nothing to do with witchcraft. Mr.Hale is shocked and wide eyed at this point. Mr. Hale tries to defend himself and the cases with the confessions. But Mr. Proctor said anyone would admit to anything if it meant they life. Hale asks more questions only to be shot down by the truth. Soon he asks if Proctor to testify in court and he accepts it. Hale in this act is waking up to the truth and now sees that this is all a lie. And that innocent people are dieing. With all this done the curtain falls to the end of scene
two.
In the third the scene, Hale is introduced to Hathorne and Danforth. Hale is repeatedly trying to speak to Danforth, about the whole situation with the witchcraft and rumors. But Danforth is trying to look at other sources for the truth. The wrong sources like Abigail and Hale is most likely furious being neglected. And he is more angered when lies are being told about Mary transforming into a bird, just to get the whole situation boiling again. And it gets worse when Proctor is blamed for doing the devil's work. At that time Hale says he quits the court and that ends act three.
In the middle of act four, Proctor is in a dungeon while Danforth and others are talking. Mr. Hale enters and there is a silence but continues and uges Danforth to postpone a week for the hanging. Trying to buy time for Proctor shows that he is determined with every fiber in him to get Procter out of hanging. Not only this but he feels guilt for the other hangings he has cause and feels that he needs to save this one person to make his conscience a little clear. Subjective Justice in my opinion. Hale continues to persuade Danforth and somewhat succeeds by getting Goody Proctor to try and convince Proctor to admit to the lie to save his own life. Proctor signs the paper of confession, but before anything else is done, Proctor tears the paper not wanting his name on the church. And is sentenced to hang that moment. Hale feels grief and great sorrow. He tries again to talk to Goody Proctor to plead for him before she does not to take away his good that he has done. The curtain falls and the deed is done And so the story ends on its last bad note.
Hale is somewhat blameable for this tragedy. He convinced the village a little about witchcraft in Salem. He even signed for hangings for witchcraft. But Hale tries his best to fix his wrongs and try and end more hangings. If anyone is to blame it would be the lies all the girls had said. Yes, Abigail was the source of rumor and pointing the finger but one of the girls could have said the truth. It is fact that the all the girls are responsible for not only the hanging but for the fear and depression in the entire village.