~4/2021
UntiUed document - Google Docs
1tntua.1 EV1dcV1cc
l t:.(ij WOYd~
HALE ANALYSIS (spark notes)
Sample question: Discuss the changes that Reverend Hale undergoes in the course of
the play.
Reverend John Hale
{A young minister reputed to be an expert on witchcraft. Reverend Hale is called in to
Salem to examine Parris's daughter Betty. Hale is a committed Christian and hater of
witchcraft. His critical mind and intelligence save him from falling into blind fervor. His
arrival sets the hysteria in motion, although he later regrets his actions and attempts to
save the lives of those accused.}
John Hale, the intellectual, na"ive witch-hunter, enters the play in Act I when Parris
summons him to examine his daughter, Betty. In an extended commentary on Hale in
Act I, Miller describes him as "a tight-skinned, eager-eyed intellectual. This is a beloved
errand for him; on being called here to ascertain witchcraft he has felt the pride of the
specialist whose unique knowledge has at last been publicly called for." Hale enters in a
flurry of activity, carrying large books and projecting an air of great knowledge. In the
early going, he is the force behind the witch trials, probing for confessions and
encouraging people to testify. Over the course of the play, however, he experiences a
transformation, one more remarkable than that of any other character. Listening to John
Proctor and Mary Warren, he becomes convinced that they, not Abigail, are telling the
truth. In the climactic scene in the court in Act Ill, he throws his lot in with those
opposing the witch trials. In tragic fashion, his about-face comes too late-the trials are
no longer in his hands but rather in those of Danforth and the theocracy, which has no
interest in seeing its proceedings exposed as a sham.
The failure of his attempts to tum the tide renders the once-confident Hale a broken
p,an.{As his belief in witchcraft falters, so does his faith in the law.)ln Act IV, it is he who
counsels the accused witches to lie, to confess their supposed sins in order to save
their own lives. In his change of heart and subsequent despair, Hale gains the
audience's sympatfi}'. but not its respect, since he lacks the moral fiber of Rebecca
Nurse or, as it turns out, John Proctor. Although Hale recognizes the evil of the witch
trials, his response is not defiance but surrender. He insists that survival is the highest
good, even if it means accommodating oneself to injustice-something that the truly
heroic characters can never accept.
httPs://docs.google.com/documenl/d/1 x_4IKCJaAy5LfzxUP6JJDXi04wtagWqdXdwZ04C7sos/edit
1/9
2/24/2021
Untltted document - Google Docs
Act I: The Entrance of Reverend Hale to the Closing Scene Quotes
One cannot help noting that one of his lines has never yet raised a laugh in any
audience that has seen this play; it is his assurance that 'We cannot look to superstition
in this. The Devil is precise.' Evidently we are not quite certain even now whether
diabolism is holy and not to be scoffed at. And it is no accident that we should be so
bemused.
No, no. Now let me instruct you. We cannot look to superstition in this. The Devil is
precise; the marks of his presence are definite as stone, and I must tell you all that I
shall not proceed unless you are prepared to believe me if I should find no bruise of Hell
upon her.
It discomfits me! Last night-mark this-I tried and tried and could not say my prayers.
And then she close her book and walks out of the house, and suddenly-mark this-I
could pray again!
He say Mr. Parris must be kill! Mr. Parris no goodly man, Mr. Parris mean man and no
gently man, and he bid me rise out of my bed and cut your throat! They gasp. But I tell
him 'No! I don't hate that man.' But he say, 'You work for me, Tituba, and I make you
free! I give you pretty dress to wear, and put you way high up in the air, you gone fly
back to Barbados!' And I say, 'You lie, Devil, you lie!' And then he come one stormy
night to me, and he say, 'Look! I have white people belong to .me.' And look-and there
was Goody Good.
I want to open myself! They tum to her, startled. She is enraptured, as though in a
pearly light. I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus! I danced for the
Devil; I saw him; I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand. I saw Sarah
Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the
Devil!
Act II
The Deputy Governor promise hangin' if they'll not confe~s, John. The town'_s g_on~ wild,
I think. She speak of Abigail, and I thought she were a saint, to hear her. Ab1ga1I brings
the other girls into the court, and where she walks the crowd will part like the sea for
Israel. And folks are brought before them, and if they scream and howl and fall to the
floor-the person's clapped in the jail for bewitchin' them .
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1 x_41KCJaAy5LfzxUP6JJDXI04wtagWqdXdwZ04C7sosledll
)21
UntlHed document - Google Docs
Spare me! You forget nothin' and forgive nothin'. Learn charity, woman. I have not
moved from there to there without I think to please you, and still an everlasting funeral
marches round your heart. I cannot speak but I am doubted, every moment judged for
lies, as though I come into a court when I come into this house!
I never knew it before. I never knew anything before. When she come into the court I
say to myself, I must not accuse this woman, for she sleep in ditches, and so very old
and poor. But then-then she sit there, denying and denying, and I feel a misty coldness
climbin' up my back, and the skin on my skull begin to creep, and I feel a clamp around
my neck and I cannot breathe air; and then-entranced-I hear a voice, a screamin'
voice, and it were my voice-and all at once I remember everything she done to me!
Charity, Proctor, charity. What I have heard in her favor, I will not fear to testify in court.
God help me, I cannot judge her guilty or innocent-I know not. Only this consider: the
world goes mad, and it profits nothing you should lay the cause to the vengeance of a
little girl.
Cllct le )
Proctor, I cannot think God be provoked so grandly by such a petty cause. The jails are
packed-our greatest judges sit in Salem now-and hangin' promised. Man, we must
look to cause proportionate. Were there murder done, perhaps, and never brought to
light? Abomination? Some secret blasphemy that stinks to Heaven? Think on cause,
man, and let you help me to discover it. For there's your way, believe it, there is your
only way, when such confusion strikes upon the world. He goes to Giles and Francis.
Let you counsel among yourselves; think on your village and what may have drawn
from heaven such thundering wrath upon you all. I shall pray God open up our eyes.
Act Ill
I tell you straight, Mister-I have seen marvels in this court. I have seen people choked
before my eyes by spirits; I have seen them stuck by pins and slashed by daggers. I
have until this moment not the slightest reason to suspect that the children may be
deceiving me. Do you understand my meaning?
But you must understand, sir, that a person is either with this court or he must be
counted against it, there be no road between. This is a sharp time, now, a precise
time-we live no longer in the dusky afternoon when evil mixed itself with good and
befuddled the world. Now, by God's grace, the shining sun is up, and them that fear not
light will surely praise it. I hope you be one of those.
Jocs.googie.com/document/d/1x_41KCJaAy5LfzxUP6JJOXi04wtagWqdXdwZ04C7sos/edit
J
2/24/2021
UnllUad document - Google Docs
1-1 cannot tell how, but I did. 1-1 heard the other girls screaming, and you, Your Honor,
you seemed to believe them, and I-It were only sport in the beginning, sir, but then the
whole world cried spirits, spirits, and 1-1 promise you, Mr. Danforth, I only thought I saw
them but I did not.
l \{_Q_\l ')
Excellency, it is a natural lie to tell; I beg you, stop now before another is condemned! I
may shut my conscience to it no more-private vengeance is working through this
testimony! From the beginning this man has struck me true. By my oath to Heaven, I
believe him now, and I pray you call back his wife before weA fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face,
and yours, Danforth! For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have
quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your black hearts that this be
fraud-God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together!
Act IV-Epilogue
Now hear me, and beguile yourselves no more. I will not receive a single plea for
pardon or postponement. Them that will not confess will hang. Twelve are already
executed; the names of these seven are given out, and the village expects to see them
die this morning. Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part; reprieve or
pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died till now. While I ~peak God's
law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering. If retaliation is your fear, know .this-I
should hang ten thousand that dared to rise against the law, and an ocean of salt tears
could not melt the resolution of all the statues. Now draw yourselves up like men and
help me, as you are bound by Heaven to do.
( \,\O.\e)
Let you not mistake your duty as I mistook my own. I came into this village like a
bridegroom to his beloved, bearing gifts of high religion; the very crowns of holy law I
brought, and what I touched with my bright confidence, it died; and where I tum~d the
eye of my great faith, blood flowed up. Beware, Goody Proctor-cleave to no faith when
faith brings blood. It is mistaken law that leads you to sacrifice. Life, woman, life is
God's most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it. I
beg you, woman, prevail upon your husband to confess. Let hi~ give his lie. Quail not
before God's judgment in this, for it may well be God damns a liar less than he that
throws his life away for pride.
httl)s://docs.google.comldocument/d/1x_41KCJaAy5LfzxUP6JJDXI04wtagWqdXdwZ04C7sos/adlt
2021
Untitled document - Google Docs
John, I counted myself so plain, so poorly made, no honest love could come to me!
Suspicion kissed you when I did; I never knew how I should say my love. It were a cold
house I kept!"
"You will not use me! I am no Sarah Good or Tituba, I am John Proctor! You will not use
me! It is no part of salvation that you should use me!
Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and
sign myself to lies! Because I am -not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How
may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!
UntiUed document - Google Docs
2/24/2021
Reverend John Hale Quotes
•
Here is all the invisible world, caught, defined, and calculated. In these books the
Devil stands stripped of all his brute disguises. Here are all your familiar spirits your incubi and succubi; your witches that go by land, by air, and by sea; your
wizards of the night and of the day. 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!
The arrival of Rev. Hale to the Parris home towards the end of Act 1 reveals him to be a
smug, if intelligent, man who calmly explains to the residents of Salem that he can
easily identify a witch. His self-assurance will soon crumble, but here Hale represents a
warning that some things are less clear than they may initially seem, and that even very
smart people can be wrong.
•
I come to do the Devil's work. I come to counsel Christians they should belie
themselves. There is blood on my head! Can you not see the blood on my head!!
By Act 4, Rev. Hale is a changed man. He's no longer certain of anything, except the
fact that the Salem witch trials have condemned and killed innocent people with his
help. He tells Danforth that he is trying to get the innocent prisoners to confess to
witchcraft in hopes of saving their lives, his duty for helping to condemn them.
•
Life, woman, life is God's most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may
justify the taking of it. I beg you, woman, prevail upon your husband to confess.
Let him give his lie. Quail not before God's judgment in this, for it may well be
God damns a liar less than he that throws his life away for pride. Will you plead
with him? I cannot think he will listen to another.
In Act 4, Rev. Hale pleads with Elizabeth to try to get John to confess to witchcraft,
which would save his life. Hale has arguably gone through the most drastic change over
the course of the play. Once a smug young pastor who thought he understood morality,
he is now reduced to begging people to lie to save themselves.
!4/2021
UntiHed document - Google Docs
Character Analysis Reverend Hale (cliff notes)
Reverend Hale's faith and his belief in the individual divide him. Hales comes to Salem
in response to a need. He is the "spiritual doctor" summoned to evaluate Salem. His job
is to diagnose witchcraft if it is present, and then provide a necessary cure through
conversion or by removing the "infected" inhabitants from Salem. Hale devotes himself
to his faith and his work. His good intentions and sincere desire to help the afflicted
motivate him.
Unfortunately, Hale is also vulnerable. His zeal for discovering witchcraft allows others,
particularly Abigail, to manipulate him. The amount of evidence for witchcraft when he
arrives in Salem overwhelms him. Although Hale remains determined not to declare
witchcraft unless he can prove it, the expectations of the people of Salem sweep him
up, and, as a result, he takes their evidence at face value, rather than investigating it
himself.
The audience should not condemn Hale. Like Proctor, he falls - through his inaccurate
judgments and convictions - but later attempts to correct his shortcomings. Hale is the
only member of the court who questions the court's decisions. He is not a rebel, nor
does he want to overthrow the court's authority, but he is striving for justice. Once he
realizes that Abigail is a fraud, Hale devotes himself to attempting to persuade the other
prisoners to confess so that they may avoid execution - using lies to foil lies. What he
does not realize is that the lies he is urging would only reinforce the slanders the court
has already committed. There would be no truth left.
The action of the play severely tests Hale's faith and understanding. He must
acknowledge that children have manipulated his own irrefutable beliefs, while also
realizing that he has sent innocent people to their death. This knowledge is a heavy
burden, but it changes Hale for the better. Although he questions his own faith and
doctrine, he does not abandon religion altogether. He catches a glimpse of true faith
through those he has condemned, particularly Rebecca Nurse and Elizabeth Proctor.
2/24/2021
Untitled docUmen1 • Google Docl
SAMPLE ESSAY ON HALE:
The Salem witch trials of 1692 caused much confusion and chaos. A total of 19 were
executed for supposed witchcraft. For such a travesty to occur and to end, there must
be certain people that catalyze the event and others that speak out against it. In "The
Crucible" by Arthur Miller, specific characters contribute to the rising hysteria of
witchcraft and the disapproval of the convictions. Reverend Hale is a unique character
that provides attributions to both sides.
Although Reverend Hale is a catalyst to the beginning of the witch trials because he
protects the authority of the court with a strict interpretation of its laws, he later realizes
the falsehood of the court's accusations, and he makes a dramatic shift in his
dependency on the law and in his beliefs of witchcraft.
For the first half of the play, Hale strictly follows the law to maintain order, and as a
result contributes to the beginning of the witch trials. For example, in his first scene of
the play he enters Parris' house to help his niece, who is believed to have a spell cast
upon her, and is carrying a heavy load of books that are "' ... are weighted with authority"'
(34 ). He prepares himself to ignore any conclusions based from emotional involvement
or sensibility by keeping at hand lawful books to guide him. He trusts his books to keep
control over the arising dilemma. In addition, when two church-going women, Martha
Corey and Rebecca Nurse, are accused of witchcraft, the women's husbands begin to
argue the case, but Hale still defends the court: "' I have seen too many frightful proofs
in court - the Devil is alive in Salem, and we dare not quail to follow wherever the
accusing finger points!"'(68). Although it is ludicrous that two of the most law-abiding
citizens of the town are accused of witchery, Hale displays that he contains more faith in
the court than in his heart because he shows no mercy or emotion towards the accused.
In these early scenes of the play, Hale does what he can to fulfill his duty of eradicating
the causes of the witchery, and does not see that the evil is not in the accused but in the
accuser. Also, Tituba, Parris' black slave, accuses Sarah Good and Goody Osbourne of
witchcraft after Hale interrogates her and forces her to tell him who she has seen under
the Devil's influence: " ...Tituba, you are chosen to help cleanse our village. So speak
utterly, Tituba, turn your back on him [the Devil] and face God ... "(44). Hale initiates the
hysteria of accusations in Salem with the pressure he puts on Tituba to give him names
(he had also threatened to whip her to death). His only objective and care at this point is
not to root out the causes of Betty's illness, but to make seemingly impressive
accusations and "fulfill" his duty of keeping away the Devil. Through these actions, Hale
proves to be an important catalyst in sparking the trials.
h+ino• /ln~• n n nn l.. rnm/rlnr.um Ant/rl/1 x 41KCJaAv5LfzxUP6JJDXi04wtaaWadXdwZ04C7sos/edit
21
Untitted document - Google Docs
th
As e ridiculousness of the court rises, Hale begins to oppose the actions it takes. For
example, ~ale pleads with Danforthe, the judge, to let Proctor return to court later with a
lawyer while he is being interrogated, and which Danforthe rejects the idea. Danforthe
possesses the ultimate power of the court and the use of its laws; however, Hale for the
st
fir time fought against its powers. He realizes the unfair judgement the court is
presenting and begins his objection to it. In addition, after Danforthe falsely arrests Giles
and Proctor of witchcraft, Hale quits the court: ,.. I denounce these precedings! I quit the
court!"'( 115). He can no longer accept the distinctly false prosecutions Danforthe
continues to make. The accusations reach a point where even the lawful Hale can no
longer ignore its ludicrousness. Through these actions, Hale proves his change from the
extreme of all for the court to the extreme of being against it.
During this time, a sense of goodness overcomes his previous interrogative and
intimidating attitude. For example, Hale states that he will not take the life of any
innocent person: "... I am a minister of the Lord, and I dare not take a life without there
be proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscious may doubt it"(95). He realizes
that the evil was not in the supposed witches, but in the hunt to eradicate the possible
menaces to the Salem society. He exemplifies his newfound understanding of God's will
and attempts to use it in order to halt the trials. In addition, once John Proctor is given
the option to confess to witchery and live, or deny it and hang, Hale tells his wife that life
is the most important gift: "It is mistaken law that leads you to sacrifice. Life, woman, life
is God's most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of
it..."(122). After contributing to the death of the first few people persecuted, he realizes
the integrity of life and that it cannot be wasted. He recognizes that he had mistakenly
contributed to the death of those in the trials, and now wants to put an end to the
hangings and save the lives of those undeserving of death. Hale demonstrates his
change in ideals by becoming emotionally involved in the situation and allowing himself
to try to protect the innocent victims.
Hale changes from being in favor of the witch trials to opposing it because of the
obviously innocent people that are sentenced to death. The Reverend is able to see his
sins and the evils around him, and he reveal his strength and will in standing up for what
he knows is right. He shows the reader that it is not one's reputation or fulfilling a job
that is justifiable to God, but one's ability to protect His will of righteousness.
Role Of Hale in The Crucible
In The Crucible a play w ·tt b A
.
.
.
.
th
ll-k
• .
n en Y rthur Miller set dunng the Salam witch tnals of the 1690's,
. ~-te nown witchcraft expert Reverend Hale serves as an living guideline for major aspects
in I e, specifically pride, integrity, and redemption. All three of these themes affect Hale's
~oug_hts and actions that lead to his downfall. By responding in the way that he did to
situations, Hale shows how events can go downhill even if one tries one's hardest. The tragic
fate of th~ ~everend can be found in the fact that his pride blinded him from the truth,
c~mpro~using his integrity and costing him his redemption. Hale's fall is a clear example of
Miller's ~deas on how pride can lead to actions and thoughts that compromise one's integrity,
preventing one from achieving redemption.
The first aspect that greatly affects Hale's fate is pride. Throughout The Crucible, pride has
played a major role, especially for Hale. When Hale first arrives to Salem, he is very proud in his
abilities and knowledge of witchcraft, carrying himself with confidence and trusting his abilities.
He stands firm in his trust of the court when others do not, too proud to admit that he might be
wrong in his trust. For instance, when Elizabeth Proctor, the wife of John Proctor, is arrested on
charges of witchcraft and attempted murder, he attempts to calm John Proctor, a very fiery and
stern man of the town, twice by saying "Proctor, if she is innocent, the court-• (Miller, 1283) and
"Proctor, the court is just-· (1283), though his protests fall on deaf ears. Hale's pride is so
strong and misplaced in the fairness of the court's decisions that he cannot see what Proctor
sees clear as day, that Elizabeth is innocent. As Hale is trying to placate Proctor, his pride does
not allow him to doubt that the court could be morally corrupt. This denial is what ultimately
leads to his downfall. By putting his pride first and mindlessly believing what he wants to
believe, Hale compromises his integrity, leading to his eventual loss of redemption.
Hale's compromised integrity stems from his decision to place his pride before his finding the
truth. As the play progresses, the effect of Hale's hubris on his declining integrity is clearly
seen. He refuses to accept that the court may not be totally just, even though at one point,
Proctor asks Hale, shortly after Elizabeth's arrest, "There are them that will swear to anything
before they'll hang; have you never thought of that?" (1279) to which Hale replies "1-1 have
indeed." (1279). This admission of doubt is the first sign in Hale's fading conviction in himself.
By denying what has been clear to others, the fact that the accused victims are innocent, Hale
proves that he is beginning to realize that he finds fault with the court system. However,
acceptance of this fact would mean two things. The first is that many innocent people have
been unfairly executed and jailed. The second is that he was unable to follow his conscience
and instead allowed himself to blindly trust in the court. These two reasons lead to his downfall
and eventually, his loss of redemption.
Redemption is the final aim of Hale; through his actions, he is never able to achieve redemption
for himself or others, though doing so is his main goal. After realizing that he has failed not only
as a witchcraft expert but as a truthful person, indicated by his overbearing pride and
compromised integrity, Hale takes off into the wilderness to find his salvation, telling no one until
his return: "Goody Proctor, I have gone this three month like our Lord into the wilderness. I
have sought a Christian way, for damnation's doubled on a minister who counsels men to lie.·
(1326). Upon returning, Hale recognizes the mistakes he has made and intends to fix them as
1/2
-best he can. He is aware that he can never completely correct all the wrongs that he has
committed on account of his actions but he aims to save all that he can. By giving up his own
chance at redemption and finally overcoming his pride, Hale believes he can save Proctor,
Rebecca, Giles, and the other accused victims of witchcraft. However, these victims would
rather cling to their moral integrity and die innocent victims than lie and live. This leaves Hale in
the position of offering help to those who do not want it. With this outcome, Hale must accept
that he cannot achieve the redemption he had worked and hoped for.
Hale is undeniably one of the most important characters in The Crucible. He provides a clear
example of Miller's thoughts on certain topics. Through Hale, rytiller shows us that pride and
compromised integrity lead to downfall and inability to achieve redemption. The main lesson to
be learned, however, is the importance of listening to one's conscience. The entirety of The
Crucible ties into this central theme. If Hale had acted upon his conscience, The Crucible may
have had a completely different ending.
2/2