Who Is Reverend Hale In The Crucible
The Crucible, a play by Arthur Miller, takes inspiration from the McCarthy hearings of the 1950s. It focuses on the Salem Witch Trials which took place from 1692 to 1693 in colonial Massachusetts. The play includes themes of deception and jealousy leading to hysteria among the people of Salem. The accusations of people being witches causes the need for heavy investigation. This is where Reverend Hale, a young minister of Beverly, comes in. Due to his extensive knowledge of such subjects, he is summoned by the people of Salem to determine if witchcraft is truly responsible for the recent happenings in Salem. Throughout the course of events in The Crucible, Reverend Hale gradually transitions from being confident to being remorseful through his
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actions, statements, and how others see him. Reverend Hale in the first act of the play can be described as an intellectual, prepared and confident young man. He arrives in Salem with, as described by John Proctor, local farmer and major character in the play, heavy books. Hale “feels himself allied with the best minds of Europe” and is focused on “goodness and its preservation.” It is likely that the people of Salem do recognize and respect his intellect which explains why he, specifically, was brought in to investigate the witch accusations. During the events of the play’s second and third acts, Hale begins to slowly transition in terms of some aspects of his character, which can be seen through his actions and statements. The second act marks Hale’s continued investigations with his visit to the home of the Proctor’s. Hale makes it clear that he “finds it hard to draw a clear opinion of them that come accused before the court” which leads him to go from house to house in an attempt to get to know the people of Salem and those mentioned in connection with witchcraft; in the process of doing so, attempting to learn of the Christian character of said people and their homes. This relates back to the fact that one of his main focuses is “goodness and its preservation.” Hale sincerely believes in fairness which can be seen with him being unable to judge those accused of witchcraft without really knowing much about said people. Of course, learning about said people is part of the reason he was called to Salem but this is a characteristic that plays a big role in his change. Hale, during the visit to the home of the Proctors, is informed by John Proctor that the “children’s sickness had naught to do with witchcraft”. Hale recalls them confessing to witchcraft only to be told by Proctor that “they must hang for denyin’ it.” This is Hale’s initial encounter with the corruption in Salem. Those connected to witchcraft were essentially, in a way, forced to confess to witchcraft. To Hale, this could be seen as an unfair act. The third act sees the main stage of Hale’s change with the court proceedings.
During the act, Hale begins to realize some hypocrisy and corruption on the court’s part. It can be observed throughout this act that Hale is actively trying to suggest that those accused of witchcraft have a chance to defend themselves, yet is cut off by the likes of Reverend Parris, Salem’s local minister, at one point. Hale goes as far as to make an argument to the judge, Danforth, that “it does not follow that everyone accused is part of it,” “it” being witchcraft. Danforth proceeds to shoot down Hale’s arguments with arguments of his own telling him “No uncorrupted man may fear this court.” Time and time again, Hale attempts to suggest that those accused have a chance to defend themselves yet has his suggestions shot down by Judge Danforth. As John Proctor is falsely accused and taken to jail near the end of the Act, Hale “denounces the proceedings” and quits the court. It is clear that he doubted Abigail William’s testimony as shown in his outcries and even explicitly stating that “This girl has always struck me false!” in reference to Abigail. It is shown in him quitting the court that he longer believes those convicted, and accused, are
witches. By the fourth and final act in The Crucible, Reverend Hale’s attitude towards the trials have completely changed. He returns to Salem intent on getting those he had convicted to save themselves after realizing just how corrupt the Salem system is. Continuing his attempts to convince Judge Danforth, he shows remorse. He states that there is “blood on his head” with all but sarcasm. He deeply feels bad, sorry, for participating in the conviction of the innocent accused. Reverend Hale, who started confident about what he was doing, ended up feeling remorseful and guilty as shown through his actions and statements all after realizing everything about the witch trials was false. In the end, Hale does stick to his focus on “goodness and its preservation.” He makes an attempt to get the accused to save themselves to relieve himself of some of the heavy guilt he was feeling as shown by him stating there was “blood on his head”. Despite his change in attitude towards the trials, he manages to retain one of his main philosophies.
actions, statements, and how others see him. Reverend Hale in the first act of the play can be described as an intellectual, prepared and confident young man. He arrives in Salem with, as described by John Proctor, local farmer and major character in the play, heavy books. Hale “feels himself allied with the best minds of Europe” and is focused on “goodness and its preservation.” It is likely that the people of Salem do recognize and respect his intellect which explains why he, specifically, was brought in to investigate the witch accusations. During the events of the play’s second and third acts, Hale begins to slowly transition in terms of some aspects of his character, which can be seen through his actions and statements. The second act marks Hale’s continued investigations with his visit to the home of the Proctor’s. Hale makes it clear that he “finds it hard to draw a clear opinion of them that come accused before the court” which leads him to go from house to house in an attempt to get to know the people of Salem and those mentioned in connection with witchcraft; in the process of doing so, attempting to learn of the Christian character of said people and their homes. This relates back to the fact that one of his main focuses is “goodness and its preservation.” Hale sincerely believes in fairness which can be seen with him being unable to judge those accused of witchcraft without really knowing much about said people. Of course, learning about said people is part of the reason he was called to Salem but this is a characteristic that plays a big role in his change. Hale, during the visit to the home of the Proctors, is informed by John Proctor that the “children’s sickness had naught to do with witchcraft”. Hale recalls them confessing to witchcraft only to be told by Proctor that “they must hang for denyin’ it.” This is Hale’s initial encounter with the corruption in Salem. Those connected to witchcraft were essentially, in a way, forced to confess to witchcraft. To Hale, this could be seen as an unfair act. The third act sees the main stage of Hale’s change with the court proceedings.
During the act, Hale begins to realize some hypocrisy and corruption on the court’s part. It can be observed throughout this act that Hale is actively trying to suggest that those accused of witchcraft have a chance to defend themselves, yet is cut off by the likes of Reverend Parris, Salem’s local minister, at one point. Hale goes as far as to make an argument to the judge, Danforth, that “it does not follow that everyone accused is part of it,” “it” being witchcraft. Danforth proceeds to shoot down Hale’s arguments with arguments of his own telling him “No uncorrupted man may fear this court.” Time and time again, Hale attempts to suggest that those accused have a chance to defend themselves yet has his suggestions shot down by Judge Danforth. As John Proctor is falsely accused and taken to jail near the end of the Act, Hale “denounces the proceedings” and quits the court. It is clear that he doubted Abigail William’s testimony as shown in his outcries and even explicitly stating that “This girl has always struck me false!” in reference to Abigail. It is shown in him quitting the court that he longer believes those convicted, and accused, are
witches. By the fourth and final act in The Crucible, Reverend Hale’s attitude towards the trials have completely changed. He returns to Salem intent on getting those he had convicted to save themselves after realizing just how corrupt the Salem system is. Continuing his attempts to convince Judge Danforth, he shows remorse. He states that there is “blood on his head” with all but sarcasm. He deeply feels bad, sorry, for participating in the conviction of the innocent accused. Reverend Hale, who started confident about what he was doing, ended up feeling remorseful and guilty as shown through his actions and statements all after realizing everything about the witch trials was false. In the end, Hale does stick to his focus on “goodness and its preservation.” He makes an attempt to get the accused to save themselves to relieve himself of some of the heavy guilt he was feeling as shown by him stating there was “blood on his head”. Despite his change in attitude towards the trials, he manages to retain one of his main philosophies.