How Does Hale Change In The Crucible

In Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible, many characters change throughout the story. One that stands out is Reverend John Hale. In the beginning he believes the false accusations of Abigail and the other girls. After listening to John Proctor and Mary Warren he realizes their story is more believable. It broke him to know that he was at fault for 19 innocent deaths. This experience changes him from being a confident man, who believed in the law and the witch trials to a humble and hurt man.

At the beginning of the story Hale was overly confident. Parris reached out to him to come to Salem and hunt witches. Hale felt pride because he was called publically. When he arrives in Salem, he had multiple large books with knowledge of witchcraft. When Parris helps Hale carry his books he says “ My, they’re heavy!” (Miller, Act 1, Line 711), and Hale responds with “They must be; they are weighted with authority.” (Miller, Act 1, Line 712). Later when Abigail and the other girls start to accuse others of witchcraft he sends people to go and arrest them. He does this because he is proud of his job and doesn’t want to look like a fool by not believing the girls. He is very proud of his job and will do anything to keep it.

Eventually Hale starts to see he made the wrong choice in believing Abigail. He starts to believe John

He accepts that the witch trials are not true. He wants to save everyone that is still alive and accused. Since he no longer believes in the witch trials, he tries to get the accused to lie. Hale wants Goody Proctor to convince John Proctor to lie and save his own life. Something else he loses faith in, is the law. Hale says “There is blood on my head! Can you not see the blood on my head!!” (Miller, Act 4, Line 312). He says this because because he let the law decide the witches fait. Hale no longer believes in the witch trials, the law or telling the truth, especially if their life depends on