Reverend Hale: A Tragic Hero
According to the famous philosopher Aristotle, there are five common traits shared among tragic heroes in stories: (1) they must have a flaw or error in judgement, (2) they have to reverse someone’s fortune because of this misjudgment, (3) the character has to recognize that the reversal of fortune was a result of their misjudgment, (4) they are prideful, and (5) they must receive a fate worse than they deserve. In the popular play The Crucible, one common tragic hero is the main character, John Proctor. However, some others argue that Reverend Hale was also a tragic hero, though less recognized due to the fact that he appears less in the play than Proctor. Based on information provided in both the original play and the movie, it can be argued
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Hale can be seen as prideful when he shows up in Act I of The Crucible, saying that his books were heavy because they were “weighted with authority” (Miller 36). This statement may sound prideful, but when the gravity of the situation and Hale’s importance to the citizens of Salem is factored in, Hale’s comment merely reflected the feelings of the town and the importance he has in it. To the Salem residents and Hale himself, his books could be life or death for some of the people living there. By the end of the play, Hale has undergone major developments and his opinion on the whole situation changed from incriminating people to trying to free them by any means necessary. His guilt is shown through his behavior, and his fate in the story is just the guilt of having sent numerous people to their deaths. Hale’s fate, while tragic, was not any greater than deserved. For these reasons, Reverend Hale might not be considered a tragic hero by the formal Aristotelian definition.
In The Crucible, Reverend Hale’s position in the play as a tragic hero is contested. Arguably, he meets certain criteria, but not all, making his status vague and uncertain. Based on Hale’s role in the play and his decisions, his title as a tragic hero can partially be supportedand partially not. He has a flaw, has recognized the flaw, and has affected others as a result. On the other hand, he did not receive a greater fate than deserved and he is not especially prideful. In these ways, Hale may not have the formal title, but his actual position can be
Hale can be seen as prideful when he shows up in Act I of The Crucible, saying that his books were heavy because they were “weighted with authority” (Miller 36). This statement may sound prideful, but when the gravity of the situation and Hale’s importance to the citizens of Salem is factored in, Hale’s comment merely reflected the feelings of the town and the importance he has in it. To the Salem residents and Hale himself, his books could be life or death for some of the people living there. By the end of the play, Hale has undergone major developments and his opinion on the whole situation changed from incriminating people to trying to free them by any means necessary. His guilt is shown through his behavior, and his fate in the story is just the guilt of having sent numerous people to their deaths. Hale’s fate, while tragic, was not any greater than deserved. For these reasons, Reverend Hale might not be considered a tragic hero by the formal Aristotelian definition.
In The Crucible, Reverend Hale’s position in the play as a tragic hero is contested. Arguably, he meets certain criteria, but not all, making his status vague and uncertain. Based on Hale’s role in the play and his decisions, his title as a tragic hero can partially be supportedand partially not. He has a flaw, has recognized the flaw, and has affected others as a result. On the other hand, he did not receive a greater fate than deserved and he is not especially prideful. In these ways, Hale may not have the formal title, but his actual position can be