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The Crucible Reverend Hale

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The play, The Crucible, authored by Arthur Miller, took place in the time of the Salem witch trials, in which lies caused mass delirium and murder. Miller shines a light on the exploitative tendencies of people in power during periods of hysteria. The play also showcases the tendency for people to change when an event tests their morality. The Crucible proves that significant events can shift someone's moral compass, just as it had in the case of Reverend Hale. Hale is a prideful individual, proud of his faith and education. When he arrives in Salem, Reverend Parris asks him why carried such heavy books he replied, “they are, weighted with authority”(40). This scene is significant because it showcases the personality of Hale, the need to show …show more content…

It is true that in both the play and history, Hale is extremely optimistic and passionate about unveiling the devil's work. In the play, when Hale first arrives in Salem he says, “Have no fear now—we shall find him out if he has come among us, and I mean to crush him utterly if he has shown his face!”(42). He expresses the same optimism in the historical piece written by him titled, A Modest Inquiry into the Nature of Witchcraft, which writes “... as the appeareth by the great endeavors of Learned and Holy men to search it out”(249) this quote expresses that it is crucial that “Learned and Holy men” condemn the work of the Devil and witchcraft. He later states in the text, “... the rules laid down for the for the bringing to light these hidden words of darkness. So that it may seem presumption in me to undertake so difficult a Theam, and to lay down such rule”(249) Hale expresses that he must establish rules to correctly prosecute witchcraft. Although the similarities between the two versions of Hale are apparent, so are the differences. It appears at the beginning of The Crucible, Hale believes that he can do no wrong. He is certain that his ways of discovering witchcraft are set in stone and “holy”. When he does change his views on the persecution of witchcraft, he does not apologize for his previous, cruel rulings. On the other hand, in A Modest Inquiry into …show more content…

For example, on January 6th, 2022, after the election of Joe Biden, supporters of Donald Trump, were outraged. They refused to believe that their previous leader had been overthrown. Moreover, Trump also took to social media and national news to feed into the delusions and anger of his supporters by claiming fraud and an unfair election. Trump took advantage of the unwavering support of his followers and the madness of the situation, using lies and falsified stories to drive them into a state of complete panic and rage. On January 6th, at the Ellipse rally, Trump spoke and according to CNN’s article, The January 6 Insurrection: Minute by Minute “As he ends his speech at the Ellipse, Trump calls for supporters to “walk down Pennsylvania Avenue” and march to the Capitol. He also tells the crowd that he will be marching with them.”(Cohen and Lotz). Americans have several legal and powerful ways to air their grievances and advance their ideologies. There are many instances of people and groups in American history that used violence to achieve their objectives, proving that not everyone chooses to use these lawful methods. (“The January 6 Effect: An Evolution of Hate and Extremism | ADL”). The same goes for the Salem witch trials. People in power notice a series of events that don't appeal to their agenda, therefore they find ways to evoke fear in people and use this fear to achieve their

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