Reverend Hale - Grandiose to Guilt When Reverend John Hale of Beverly arrived in the secretly psychotic town of Salem, he was carrying books “weighted with authority” (Miller 844). In the progressing scenes, the Reverend quickly made icy contact with the citizens of Salem, starting with the revered Rebecca Nurse and then the general public of Salem (Miller 844). Thankfully, Arthur Miller (the author of The Crucible) wrote Hale as a dynamic character. In this essay, I explain how Reverend Hale changed drastically over the course of the play; how he turned from a pompous exorcist to a guilt-ridden condemner. Hale, at the beginning of the play, has a pompous air about him. His better-than-you attitude repels some of the ‘Salemites’ he meets …show more content…
This was an unfair comment, mostly stated in a rush of anger and grief. At this point, Hale obviously feels bad about the situation, and wants to help the Proctors, but can do very little about the plight. In the next (third) scene, when they are in the courtroom, Hale states rather critically: “Excellency, I have signed seventy-two death warrants; I am a minister of the Lord, and I dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate so slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it.” This statement alone can showcase Hale’s character: he is a man of the Lord, values the lives of others, and is saying he was wrong in signing those …show more content…
He has been trying to get the accused to confess to their crimes, thus saving themselves from hanging. Some do, but Rebecca Nurse stands firm in her beliefs and awaits execution (Miller Act 4). He begs Judge Danforth to pardon them, however, Danforth does not budge (Miller Act 4). Throughout the second quarter of the fourth act, Hale argues with Danforth, begging him to reconsider. Hale suggests that postponing the trials for a second try to get confessions will “speak mercy on [Danforth’s] part” (Miller Act 4) This remark still leaves Danforth headstrong in his stubbornness, and innocent citizens on death row. In hindsight, Hale shouldn't have signed the papers, but there weren't many options for him to
Once they saw the result of the girls naming off names at once, Reverend Hale wanted to help the girls instead of hang them for they did not cause themselves to become under the devils power. Once he saw what was to happen to the women that confess he believed that much more woman were witches especially the ones rattled off by Abigail Williams and Betty. He wanted the girls to confess to their witchcraft so that they would not be hung for their wrongdoing. He was very determined to make Elizabeth Proctur confess so that he would not witness her hanging. Once Rebecca Nurse was accused then Reverend Danforth did not want to believe the witch trials
Reverend Hale is shown trying to give John the best representation he can get in order to have a chance to win the court. If Hale didn’t want John to succeed, he never would’ve offered Proctor this chance to Danforth. He starts to show his doubts in all the girls during this scene and the court's
Since the court and everyone believed Rev Hales word many people who were arrested were because of him. Rev Hale stated, “ Excellency, I have signed seventy-two death warrants; I am a minister of the Lord, and I dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it” (Miller 99). This was the starting point of Hale realizing how many lives were taken because of his word. He signed the warrants, making the death in his hand, but he was trying to get them a second chance because he knew they were wrongfully accused. Also, when Rev Hale visits Elizabeth in the Jail he tries to make her confess the truth because he knows her and John were wrongfully thrown in jail.
It becomes apparent that he is a man of God that wants fair justice among the people of Salem. However, as act one progresses he begins to notice the large amount of
At this point Rev. Hale is starting to turn his back on the court and church once he realized that his wife has been convicted too. At that time, he decided to take matters into his own hands, and he went to the other prisoners telling them to turn on Abigail. After, he soon realizes that his actions would reinforce the slanders that the court decided. The action of the play severely tests Hale's faith and understanding.
Hale no longer believes in the witch trials. Everything Reverend Hale came to Salem for now no longer means anything to him. By this point Reverend Hale, among others, has become fed up with the pretense and falseness of ‘The Salem Witch Trials’ and wants nothing more than for it to be over. (page 84, act four, Miller, Arthur The Crucible: A Play in Four Acts, Viking Press 1953) “ HALE, quickly to Danforth: Excellency, it is enough he confess himself. Let him sign it, let him sign it.”
Hale says to Danforth, “Excellency, I have signed seventy-two death warrants; I am a minister of the Lord, and I dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it” (The Crucible pg 184). At this point in the play, John Hale has a new perspective on the situation occurring in Salem. He realizes by starting the witch trials, he encouraged the accusation and death of innocent people. Hale feels guilty for the lives he ended and begins his new mission of saving
(Miller 120) Reverend Hale had the courage to voice his opinion and step in when needed. Reverend Hale made reasonable points trying to side with John Proctor. “Proctor, the court is just”. (Miller 73).
When he first enters Salem it seems his head is held high with knowledge and determination, but he will not allow any conclusions to be made unless they are from his books that guide him through witchcraft cases. After Abigail reveals she did not see the devil, Hale immediately makes an accusation and suspiciously asks, “Why are you concealing? Have you sold yourself to Lucifer?” (Miller 1259). Because of Hale’s authority, Abigail becomes defensive and puts the blame on Tituba.
He said, "I dare not take a life without there be a proof no immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it" (Miller 188). He did not want anyone to hang for a crime they did not commit, and he did not want any guilty conscience of it afterward. He started to realize that people are accusing others for their own gain, and when no one would listen, Hale quit the court. In Act 4, Hale tries to save people's lives by convincing them to confess. He doubts his own Puritan faith and pursues the falsely accused on his own.
Hale acknowledges human’s mortality more so than Danforth who believes his word is the final say. Furthermore, Judge Danforth appears to only be concerned with having those who were jailed, confess to being witches whether they were or not. All those who do not confess to conspiring with the devil in his eyes are evil and those “who weep for [them, therefore] weep for corruption” (134). In contrast, Hale is desperate to save the innocent from their inevitable doom because he believes “life is God’s most precious gift” and “no principle [] may justify taking it” (122). He even encourages Elizabeth Proctor to “prevail upon [her] husband to confess” because “God damns a liar less than he that throws his life away for pride” (122).
In act 1 and 2 in the play ,The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the character Reverend Hale was introduced and learned what his role was. Reverend Hale was a man nearing his forties and was a high-status intellectual who was an expert in witchcraft (Miller 155). In this act Hale said that he believes there always will be someone with the devil(Miller 155). Hale was siding with the court in this act and signing death warrants along with believing in these accusations fully as shown in his visit to the Proctors when he said there is too much evidence to deny the Devil is in Salem (Miller 171). Also, Hale almost played as an interrogator when he was giving rapid fire questions to John about his Christian character and if he goes to church in his visit to the Proctor house (Miller 171).
(Miller 1323). Hale shows to be a hero because he is trying to raise awareness of the unfair hangings of the townspeople. Additionally, Hale is exposing the idiocy of the court to the unaccused citizens of Salem. Reverend Hale shows heroism through his actions, but Elizabeth Proctor also shows heroism through her supreme
He begins to try to convince Proctor and others to sign documents saying they are witches so that they can go free. Hale has returned to Salem because he feels guilty for signing the death warrants of many innocent people as he says, "There is blood on my head!"(Miller 131). He pleads with the judges again to give him more time or to pardon them as there are orphans walking around Salem, and the judges seem to know they are wrong also. Reverend Hale's last attempt to save Proctor is to try to have Elizabeth convince Proctor to confess. Proctor strongly considers it but tears the confession paper up as he does not want to ruin his family name.
At the same time he is doing his duty of making her confess. Nevertheless, Reverend Hale knows that John and Elizabeth are innocent, and that Abigail Williams and the girls are guilty of witchcraft.” You are goodwife Proctor”(2. 266-267). He could have done something more than just trying to convince Judge Danforth that they are innocent.