What happens when a person's places his whole-hearted trust in someone he has been completely wrong about? A good example of this, in Arthur Miller's four-act play The Crucible, happens when Reverend John Hale finds himself in a community entwined with lies, deceit, and betrayal. The play starts out in Salem, Massachusetts when a group of girls are discovered dancing in the woods at night. The girls' actions lead the local town's people of Salem in a suspicion of witch-craft when Betty Parris, the daughter of the local minister Reverend Parris, lay in bed one morning not being able to wake.Caught up in the whole talk and suspicion of witch-craft, Reverend Parris sends for help from a man more familiar on the subject, Reverend John Hale of Beverly.
It brings out on page 842 of the play that "Mr. Hale is nearing forty. " Even though Hale is not young, his wisdom has helped him become a very intellectual man, one of the reasons Parris calls to him for help. Hale has a wide spread reputation of being experienced on the subject of witch-craft and a man close to God.
Although being closed-minded and prideful at times, Reverend John Hale's passion to do right for the people stands out the most in his character. Hale owns up to his closed-minded reputation by listening to the opinions written in the books he studies and carries around with him. His intolerance of the opinions around him make him stubbornly unreceptive to any ideas other than his own. On page 842 in act one of the play, Miller describes Hale as a "tight-skinned, eager-eyed intellectual.
This quote helps the readers perceive a realistic vision of Hale's character. The day Hale arrives in Salem, his investigation immediately begins. Parris informs Hale of a group of girls accusing others of witch-craft. Hale lets no time go to waste by willingly inserting himself into the middle of the action.
His sense of pride becomes the main motive in Hale taking part in the action. Hale would jump at any chance he could get to prove to the town's people of Salem and to himself, that he's an expert on witch-trials.Miller describes Hale, on page 843 of Act One, saying "he believed that he had had contact with the Devil, and had argued theology with him. " Hale's prideful acceptance and confidence in his skills make him believe he's argued theology with the Devil himself.
Hale walks around the village like he owns the place, interrogating everyone. He makes good use of questions when speaking with people to try and bring out the most accurate story. Passion drives Hale to continue asking questions and investigating until he finds the truth.At first Hale's opinion, stuck on witchery, stands firm, but as he continues to ask around and observe the court, his opinion begins to change. Hale soon finds himself siding with a common man named John Proctor who believes the accusing girls have misled the town by deceit. John believes strongly that "they're pretending"(Act Four ,872).
Hale begins to feel the same way. Hale starts to fear that he participated in sentencing innocent people to their death. As he begins to learn new facts and catches some of the girls in their lies, his ability to differentiate between good and evil is tested.By the end of the play, Hale's passion to save the lives of the innocent people drives him to beg the convicted to confess. Miller gives us a good example of Hale's passion for the innocent to confess on page 882 of Act Four. Hale, practically yelling at Elizabeth Proctor, says, "I beg you, woman, prevail upon your husband to confess.
Let him give his lie. " Hale wants John Proctor to lie and confess so he will not be hanged. He begs Elizabeth, John's wife, to speak with John.Hale becomes so frustrated with the court for accusing people who are innocent and refuse to confess that he quits the court.
Reverend John Hale's character drastically changes from the beginning of the play to the end. Upon arriving in Salem, Hale was a man built by pride and strength of mind. By the end of the play, Hale's heart outweighs his strength of mind and he completely goes against the side of him built up with so much pride and close-mindedness. Instead, he shows his true inner feelings, bringing out the kind, caring, compassionate person hidden on the inside.
