Hale’s Transformation In The Crucible

In Arthur Miller’s novel, The Crucible, a story based during the Salem Witch Trials, Reverend John Hale goes to Salem to find people he believes are possessed by the Devil and have committed acts of witchcraft. When he looks at all the evidence, he realizes that this is an unfair trial based on lies, and that everyone who had been killed was innocent. This causes Reverend Hale to try and save the condemned by convincing them to confess crimes they never committed. An analysis of this conflict and character development causes the reader to respect Hale for what he’s doing, and to understand there is still rational thinking in the worst of times.

When Reverend John Hale arrives in Salem, his belief in witchcraft is confirmed by his encounters with several villagers. For example, Reverend Parris asks him to examine his daughter. Before proceeding, Hale says “The Devil is precise; the marks of his presence are definite as stone.” (38) This quote shows Hale really believes that the Devil can possess a human soul. This quote also demonstrates that Hale knows the marks of the Devil’s presence and has had experience dealing with exorcism before. Soon after, while talking to several villagers, Hale says, “If the Devil is in her you will witness some frightful wonders in this room.” (41) It is obvious that Hale has witnessed these frightful wonders before, and he believes it may happen again in Salem. Moreover, when Hale confronts Abigail about her relationship to the witchcraft, Abigail blames all her mischief on Tituba. Hale then asks Tituba “Are you gathering souls for the Devil?” (44) After being threatened to be hanged, Tituba confesses to everything she is accused of. This shows Hale when he still strongly believes there are witches in Salem, and that Tituba is guilty of witchcraft. He doesn’t  realize she made a false confession to save herself. As a result, Hale decides to find out more about the other people being accused of witchcraft. 

 When he looks at all the evidence, Hale realizes that this is an unfair trial based on lies, and that the people who testified did it out of vengeance, fear, or for personal gain, and that all the people who’d been killed were innocent. Hale tells Danforth “Send him home and let him come again with a lawyer.” He believes this trial is unfair, and everyone should have the right to a lawyer. He then says “I dare not take a life without there be proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it.” Hale doesn’t want there to be any possibility of the condemned being innocent. Later, Proctor confesses to lechery in front of the court. He then says “It is a whore’s vengeance, and you must see it.” (110) When referring to Abigail’s testimony. Hale sees that Proctor is telling the truth, and the Abigail has been lying from the start. Hale directly confronts Judge Danforth by saying, “It is a lie! They are innocent!” (132) while talking about the villagers accused of witchcraft. Danforth denies this, but Hale understands that this whole trial was based on a lie, and that all of the condemned are innocent. This is very important, because it is when Hale becomes aware of how much damage this trial has done to many people, he is remorseful, and admits he was wrong. 

This caused Reverend Hale to try and save the condemned by convincing them to confess crimes they never committed. Hale tells Proctor’s wife Elizabeth that “Life is God’s most precious gift.” (132) He then says “Let him give his lie,” (132) while talking about Proctors false confession. Hale understands he is innocent, and he wants Elizabeth to convince Proctor to confess. When he says that life is God’s most precious gift, what he means is that it is more important to save your life and lie, than tell the truth but die. Hale also tells Elizabeth, “I would save your husband’s life, for if he is taken I count myself his murderer.” (131) When Hale says this, he is accepting that he was wrong about there being witchcraft in Salem, and he is taking the blame for any innocent people being killed.

An analysis of this conflict and character development causes the reader to respect Hale for what he’s doing. When he first arrives in Salem, he believes there is witchcraft, and people possessed by the devil, but as he get’s to know the citizens better, he realizes that the trial is unfair, the witchcraft is all made up, and everyone is innocent. This shows the reader there is still rational thinking in the worst of times.