Reverend Hale Believes In Witchcraft example essay topic

David S tier 9-15-03 Mrs. Morrison English Crucible Literary Analysis In the time of Indians, fur hunters, and the British, there was a village in the colony of Massachusetts. In the 1950's a man named Arthur Miller wrote a play about what tragedies occurred in this village. The book was about the Salem witch trials in none other that Salem Massachusetts. The book has many characters and many messages, but what we will be focusing on is a character named Reverend Hale. Reverend Hale is the most dynamic character of the play. Toward the beginning of the play, Reverend Hale believes that there very well could be witches in Salem Massachusetts, but towards the middle he believes that not all of the accused are witches, and finally he realizes that none of this is true and it's all just because of Abigail's greed.

At the end of act one, when Reverend Hale first makes his appearance, he makes it obvious that he has no doubt that there could be witches in the village. In this quote, Reverend Hale is in Reverend Parris' house besides Betty. "Mr. Putnam, stand close in case she flies". In that quote, he shows that he believes in the existence of witches themselves, and that Betty may even be one. In the next quote, Reverend Hale is talking to Abigail, questioning her about witchcraft.

"Abigail, it may be your cousin dying, did you call the devil last night". The quote just gives further evidence that Reverend Hale believes in witchcraft, and that it is or was occurring. In this next quote, Reverend Hale is talking to Tit uba, also questioning her about witchcraft. "You most certainly do, and you will free her from it now! When did you make compact with the devil?" This quote gives strong evidence that Reverend Hale believes that there is witches in Salem.

This information gives strong evidence that Reverend Hale believes that there are in fact witches in Salem Massachusetts. In Act 3, it becomes apparent that Reverend Hale is starting to reconsider weather or not everyone accused of witchcraft is actually guilty or not. In this first quote, Reverend Hale is speaking with Judge Danforth in the courthouse. "But it does not fallow that everyone is accused is a part of it". This gives evidence that he thinks there are possibly still witches; but not all of the accused are witches.

In this second quote, Reverend Hale is again talking with Judge Dan froth in the courthouse. "I cannot say he is a honest man; I know him little. But in all justice, sir, a claim so weighty cannot be argued by a farmer. In god's name, sir, stop here; send him home and let him come again with a lawyer-" In this quote, he reveals that he is starting to believe John Proctor and that a lot of this is not true, and wants John to have a chance to stop this. In this third quote Hale is yet again addressing Judge Danforth about more matters that could save peoples lives. "But this child claims the girls are not truthful, and if they are not-" This quote shows further that Reverend Hale believes that this can't all be true.

So we observe that in the courtroom, Reverend Hale tries to help Judge Danforth with his reasoning, but fails, leading to more people getting convicted of witchcraft. Now in act 4 we observe even more developments, as we find Reverend Hale at the point of disbelief of anything about anything the girls have said. In this first quote, they are in the courthouse, Reverend Hale is trying desperately to defend John proctor. "I believe him! Pointing at Abigail: The girl has always struck me as false! She has-" Now we observe Reverend Hale Yelling at the judge, this gives us evidence that he whole heartedly believes that John Proctor is right.

In the next quote Reverend Hale is addressing the judge. "Indicating Abigail and the girls: You cannot believe them!" Reverend Hale is saying to the judge that it is outrageous to believe that anything that these girls are saying is true. This just giving reinforcement that he believes that nothing that any of these girls had said is true. In this last quote, Reverend Hale decides not to be any part of the judging. "I denounce the proceedings".

This gives evidence that he cannot bear to watch these innocent people he hung, and wants no part of it. Reverend Hale tries very hard to stop what is going on, but fails at it and ends up leaving to prevent this from happening in any other towns. So afterward we learn that Reverend Hale successfully accomplishes his goal in the neighboring town, to at least help the Judges realize that they were wrong. It is amazing how one can accept his or her mistakes and try to fix it. To say the least, Reverend Hale contributes a lot to the play. He realizes what he has done wrong and tries with all his power to stop it, now if that isn't dynamic, I don't know what is.