Reverend Hale In The Crucible Essay

Is Reverend Hale from Beverley to be blamed for the deaths in Salem? Was he on the side of God when the witch-hunt trials started? Reverend Hale is the person whom people search for to confirm if the devil has taken over a person. When Hale enters this witch-hunt trail, he questions many, but did not seem to listen to the innocent’s true words and only pressures them into admitting that they side with the devil. However, when he notices that Abigail has been lying this whole time, his views change and he starts regretting what he did, but he was too late. Hale is a knowledgeable character, yet he switches roles because of false information and is to blame for many of the deaths. Hale has read many books and knows what the books hold. “They
Hale believes her and starts questioning people that Abigail accuses. Despite that, he did not listen to the truth, but coerces the citizens who are blamed to submit to the truth. His version of the truth is that they are collaborating with the devil. Moreover, he suspects nothing until Rebecca Nurse is arrested. At Proctor’s house, Proctor tells him some of the truth to the witch-hunt. “And why not, if they must hang for denyin’ it? There are them that will swear to anything before they’ll hang; have you never thought of that?” (Miller 169). This also starts the craziness of the time, where Elizabeth Proctor is being arrested, Proctor is furious and wants to free her, and Hale realizes the truth. In addition, he begins noticing Abigail and her friends’ pretense and feels remorseful to everything he has done: “I have this morning signed away the soul of Rebecca Nurse, Your Honor. I’ll conceal it, my hand shakes yet as with a wound! I pray you, sir, this argument let lawyers present to you” (Miller 184). When John Proctor’s words, “I say – I say – God is dead! You are pulling Heaven down and raising up a whore!” (Miller 194), are misinterpreted to him confessing, Hale decides to leave the court and not work anymore. “I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court!” (Miller 194). His role changes significantly – from a person who causes death to the person who wants to save lives. All in all, Hale is intelligent, yet slow at noticing the truth; fast at trusting Abigail, but slow to act after the truth. That’s a reason why his role switched; he trusts the wrong person and finalizes the executions too quickly. Consequently, seventy- two people died and more are getting ready to be executed, but he shows regret, so he is not to be fully blamed. Hale is an important character in The Crucible, as both good and