In Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible, Reverend Hale, a specialist on witchcraft from Beverly, enters the colony of Salem, Massachusetts. He was summoned here by Reverend Parris to ascertain the presence of witchcraft in his home. Considering himself to be in league with the best minds in Europe, Hale immediately examines Parris’s daughter Betty and interrogates Parris’s niece Abigail and slave Tituba. His interrogation causes Tituba and Abigail to ‘confess’ to witchery and accuse others of the same crime. Despite Hale’s good intentions, he, unintentionally, sets the hysteria of the witch trials with his arrival and actions. Hale is an intellectual whose critical mind and keen observations helped prevent him from being swept away by the hysteria;
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Bringing with him heavy books “weighted with authority,” he is eager to finally put his skills to the test and is confident that he can discover the truth of the illness that ails Betty (34). While the Putnams immediately jumped to the conclusion of witchcraft, Hale declared that they “cannot look to superstition” and that they need to be open to other causes (35). Through this statement, Hale exhibits himself as a fair and righteous investigator. As a highly educated and logical individual, he bases his conclusions on the evidences he uncovers not by his own personal emotions or desires. He does not jump to groundless deductions and uses the books as guides on his mission. While Hale is logical, he strongly believes in the existence of witchcraft and states that he will “crush [the Devil] utterly if he has shown his face” in Salem (37). The intense dedication to his cause can be seen when he aggressively inquired Abigail and Tituba about Betty’s condition. His constant stream of accusations and questions placed Abigail and Tituba under pressure and frightened them. Like many people who have a strong sense of purpose, Hale is fuelled by the need for his services and appears to enjoy the attention he receives for doing his role as a ‘witch
Bringing with him heavy books “weighted with authority,” he is eager to finally put his skills to the test and is confident that he can discover the truth of the illness that ails Betty (34). While the Putnams immediately jumped to the conclusion of witchcraft, Hale declared that they “cannot look to superstition” and that they need to be open to other causes (35). Through this statement, Hale exhibits himself as a fair and righteous investigator. As a highly educated and logical individual, he bases his conclusions on the evidences he uncovers not by his own personal emotions or desires. He does not jump to groundless deductions and uses the books as guides on his mission. While Hale is logical, he strongly believes in the existence of witchcraft and states that he will “crush [the Devil] utterly if he has shown his face” in Salem (37). The intense dedication to his cause can be seen when he aggressively inquired Abigail and Tituba about Betty’s condition. His constant stream of accusations and questions placed Abigail and Tituba under pressure and frightened them. Like many people who have a strong sense of purpose, Hale is fuelled by the need for his services and appears to enjoy the attention he receives for doing his role as a ‘witch