In the book The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, the play is set in the town of Salem, Massachusetts in the late 1600’s. Several teenage girls who are residents of Salem are seen practicing witchcraft by the town’s reverend, Reverend Parris. Due to a fear of witchcraft, Reverend Parris request that fellow Reverend Hale come to Salem to help cure Salem of witchcraft because Reverend Hale is considered an expert in curing witchcraft. As the play progresses, Reverend Hale undergoes changes such as a change in his confidence, trust in the law, and his conscience.
At the beginning of the novel, Hale shows that he takes pride in his work and is proud he has been called to cure Salem of witchcraft. The narrator describes Hale as “he felt the pride of the specialist whose unique knowledge has at last been publicly called for which pertains to the knowledge of his witchcraft.” As the story progresses, Hale’s confidence starts to change …show more content…
Reverend Hale sees this as his duty to God to cleanse Salem of the devil. In act II, Reverend Hale says “the Devil is alive in Salem.” This goes to show that Hale truly believes that citizens of Salem are practicing witchcraft. Though, in act III, Hale says “I dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it.” Hale reveals that he now has difficulty taking a life since he realizes there is no concrete proof of witchcraft. At the very end, Hale begs Elizabeth to convince her husband, John Proctor, to sign a contract stating he practiced witchcraft so he can keep his life. Proctor refuses to, and that is when it is clearly shown that Hale realizes he has taken innocent lives for a false purpose. At the beginning of the play, Hale shows he has no difficulty taking someone’s life, but in the end he even attempts to save John Proctors
At the beginning of the novel, Hale shows that he takes pride in his work and is proud he has been called to cure Salem of witchcraft. The narrator describes Hale as “he felt the pride of the specialist whose unique knowledge has at last been publicly called for which pertains to the knowledge of his witchcraft.” As the story progresses, Hale’s confidence starts to change …show more content…
Reverend Hale sees this as his duty to God to cleanse Salem of the devil. In act II, Reverend Hale says “the Devil is alive in Salem.” This goes to show that Hale truly believes that citizens of Salem are practicing witchcraft. Though, in act III, Hale says “I dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it.” Hale reveals that he now has difficulty taking a life since he realizes there is no concrete proof of witchcraft. At the very end, Hale begs Elizabeth to convince her husband, John Proctor, to sign a contract stating he practiced witchcraft so he can keep his life. Proctor refuses to, and that is when it is clearly shown that Hale realizes he has taken innocent lives for a false purpose. At the beginning of the play, Hale shows he has no difficulty taking someone’s life, but in the end he even attempts to save John Proctors