Essay On John Hale The Crucible
The struggle of Reverend John Hale is that he was transformed emotionally throughout the times of lies and treachery as he goes from unbiased accuser, to uncertain power, to defender of the accuser. This connects to Arthur Miller’s reason for writing this play because in 1952 the same thing was going on but in this case it was McCarthyism which is a vociferous campaign against alleged communists in the US government and other institutions carried out under Senator Joseph McCarthy in the period 1950–54. Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” focuses on the inconsistencies of the Salem witch trials and the extreme behavior that can result from dark desires and hidden agendas. In the Play it states “ Reverend John Hale: we cannot look to superstition
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in this. The devil is precise; the marks of his presence are definite as stone” This is an example of hypocrisy. Hale states two contradicting ideas in adjacent sentences.
He states that superstition must not be involved, but then he immediately goes to his religion for answers. Also in the play it states “Hale: There is a prodigious fear of this court in the country — Danforth: Then there is a prodigious guilt in the country. Are you afraid to be questioned here? Hale: I may only fear the Lord, sir, but there is fear in the country nevertheless.Danforth: Reproach me not with the fear in the country; there is fear in the country because there is a moving plot to topple Christ in the country! Hale: But it does not follow that everyone accused is part of it. Danforth: No uncorrupted man may fear this court, Mr. Hale!”. Danforth doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He attacks Hale’s character instead of his argument. He does not even allow Hale’s argument to be said, because of his interruption, and quickly assumes Hale is guilty of something because of the fear of the country. Lastly in the play it states “John Hale: It is mistaken law that leads you to sacrifice. Life, woman, life is God's most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it. I beg you, woman, prevail upon your husband to confess. Let him give his lie. Quail not before God's
judgment in this, for it may well be God damns a liar less than he that throws his life away for pride.” This is John Hale’s perspective on what John Proctor should do: he should disregard his honor and confess, because nothing is worth throwing a life away. It is a valid point, but the way John Proctor sees it if he does confess, his life is gone and so are those of his heirs. This evidence shows how he went from unbiased accuser, to uncertain power, to defender of the accused because through the play he has been trying to say what if it's not witchcraft, then he start having to prove his power to Paris, and lastly quitting his job and helping John Proctor to not get hung. In conclusion Reverend John Hale had the most dramatic emotional changes because he tried to keep the peace and as the play went on he had to prove himself as being unbiased but still having lots of power. I think Arthur Miller created Hale to be this way because during the time of McCarthyism, the government was pointing fingers at people calling them communist, and there were people who was trying to help those being accused and being accused themselves because they were helping had to prove their power and later on help those who were accused.
in this. The devil is precise; the marks of his presence are definite as stone” This is an example of hypocrisy. Hale states two contradicting ideas in adjacent sentences.
He states that superstition must not be involved, but then he immediately goes to his religion for answers. Also in the play it states “Hale: There is a prodigious fear of this court in the country — Danforth: Then there is a prodigious guilt in the country. Are you afraid to be questioned here? Hale: I may only fear the Lord, sir, but there is fear in the country nevertheless.Danforth: Reproach me not with the fear in the country; there is fear in the country because there is a moving plot to topple Christ in the country! Hale: But it does not follow that everyone accused is part of it. Danforth: No uncorrupted man may fear this court, Mr. Hale!”. Danforth doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He attacks Hale’s character instead of his argument. He does not even allow Hale’s argument to be said, because of his interruption, and quickly assumes Hale is guilty of something because of the fear of the country. Lastly in the play it states “John Hale: It is mistaken law that leads you to sacrifice. Life, woman, life is God's most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it. I beg you, woman, prevail upon your husband to confess. Let him give his lie. Quail not before God's
judgment in this, for it may well be God damns a liar less than he that throws his life away for pride.” This is John Hale’s perspective on what John Proctor should do: he should disregard his honor and confess, because nothing is worth throwing a life away. It is a valid point, but the way John Proctor sees it if he does confess, his life is gone and so are those of his heirs. This evidence shows how he went from unbiased accuser, to uncertain power, to defender of the accused because through the play he has been trying to say what if it's not witchcraft, then he start having to prove his power to Paris, and lastly quitting his job and helping John Proctor to not get hung. In conclusion Reverend John Hale had the most dramatic emotional changes because he tried to keep the peace and as the play went on he had to prove himself as being unbiased but still having lots of power. I think Arthur Miller created Hale to be this way because during the time of McCarthyism, the government was pointing fingers at people calling them communist, and there were people who was trying to help those being accused and being accused themselves because they were helping had to prove their power and later on help those who were accused.