...through the Characterization of Reverend John Hale Throughout The Crucible, Arthur Miller uses the characterization of an archetypal hero, Reverend John Hale, to reveal how when arrogant and nationalistic pride becomes involved even the most intelligent and moral man’s moral compass can be distorted. This universal truth and Hale’s archetypal characteristics were revealed by Miller to reprehend those who fell into McCarthyism and the flaws in the American society in the nineteen-fifties, which were impacts of their blinded morals. To comprehend the idea of this specific universal truth, one first must understand Hale’s characterization through Aristotle’s archetypal hero traits. The first criteria, Noble...
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...change as new things come to light and are experienced. In books, many authors can expertly show a character’s development and change. A prime example of this is in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. Reverend Hale, a character in The Crucible, undergoes a dramatic and significant character development and change throughout the plot, which consists of being humbled because of new information and events, which changes him as a person to one who is more aware and logical. Reverend Hale’s personality changed and softened from the beginning to the end of the text. His initial mindset can be seen when he says his books are “weighted with authority” (Act I, Page 36). This metaphor implies he considers his books to be a symbol of education and, therefore, authority. With such a mindset, he likely is slightly arrogant and thinks of himself as a great religious leader. Later in the text, Hale says, “I come to do the Devil’s work. I come to counsel Christians they should belie themselves” (Act IV,...
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...Reverend Hale In the United States of America, The Bill of Rights states that everyone is “innocent until proven guilty.” In the Salem Witch Trials, this right was not in effect. The judges accused people of being witches without any real evidence, they were guilty until proven innocent. However, Reverend Hale was one voice of reason. In The Crucible, Reverend Hale goes from assisting the accusers of witchcraft, to denouncing the accusations. In the beginning of The Crucible, Reverend Hale is somewhat skeptical, but doesn’t reject the idea that there are witches in Salem. When he arrives, he states, “We cannot look to superstition in this. The Devil is precise.” (Miller 1146) This tells me that Hale is not ready to do something impetuous, and wants to do some investigating before anyone is indicted of any wrongdoing. Hale is a holy man, but also a man of substance and...
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...Crucible/Central park five In The Crucible and Central Park Five people are being wrongly accused to either death or life ruining situations. In the crucible there is a breakout of witchcraft and people are losing their lives. Also their is an affair between John Proctor and Abigail. In the Central Park five innocent boys and men are accused of rape and assault. In the play the crucible by Arthur Miller shows that a hero is based on bravery, courage, and being kind which John Proctor and Reverend Hale show throughout the story. A hero in the crucible is John Proctor although he is more of a tragic hero he is still a hero. “A man may think god sleeps, but god sees everything, I know it now. I beg you sir,I beg you see- her what she is… she thinks to dance with me on my wife's grave and well she might, for I thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore’s vengeance” (act 3). The character trait being shown is his honesty and bravery to tell the truth even though he did wrong. Saying this is heroic because he knows saying this is going to hurt him but it shows his bravery. This is a sign of bravery and shows his personality throughout the story. Another hero is Reverend Hale even though throughout the story...
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...Within the confines of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, many of the conflicts—including the more indirect conflict of John Proctor and Reverend Hale—hinge upon the theme of the importance of reputation. In a time when ones good reputation is the cornerstone for a content, healthy existence, it makes sense that reputation is an important recurring theme in The Crucible. John Proctor’s reputation is built upon his willingness to argue for what he thinks is right while managing to stay just this side of being a reputable, upstanding Puritan citizen. This is shown when Proctor is quick to come to verbal blows with Reverend Parris, culminating in Proctor dictating, “I like not the smell of this “authority”” (29). Proctor’s reputation of integrity and...
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...------------------------------------------------- Character Progression and Development of Reverend John Hale in The Crucible The character of Reverend Hale, in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, experiences a profound, dramatic and transformative personal evolution from when he comes to Salem in Act One through the climax in the third act. In the final act, in this progression, his identity by profession is challenged when he is confronted with the realization of an unjust, immoral community, and he responds with integrity and moral truth by abandoning his assigned mission of “witch hunter” in order to truly save others. When Reverend Hale first comes onto the scene, he is a pious and revered minister who was summoned by Reverend Parris because of his expertise on uncovering witchcraft. Reverend Hale presents as a strict and dedicated professional; he is confident, even arrogant as to his education, knowledge and, his authoritative role as expert, and falls back upon the fact that Salem needs him to resolve the unrest and chaos in the community. The hysteria in Salem is clearly exacerbated by Hale’s investigation; but initially, Hale is fueled by his charge to rid Salem of witchcraft and his self-assurance in that role, Hale finds himself, in the end, questioning his own integrity and his moral beliefs when he realizes that the witchcraft accusations were false. He has to battle his own internal guilt and regret for the needless suffering of other accused and persecuted which...
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...Taylor Paschal Mrs. Sills English II B4 Date due Title In the late 1690’s, Salem had been flipped upside down. Between the witch trials and false accusations, this town made a hate-filled lasting impression on these people and history forever. An example of someone who has been through all of these hearings and prosecutions, is a man named John Proctor. John Proctor is a young man who made a huge mistake. Early in his life he had an affair with a young girl named Abigail. He also had a wife named Elizabeth, who he loved deeply. He thinks this affair damaged him in the eyes of everyone he loves; including Elizabeth, himself, and even God. Though he did let his sin get the best of him, he does not have the capacity to forgive himself....
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...meaning that when a good person decides to do nothing evil will succeed. For example if someone was getting bullied and an onlooker decide to do nothing than evil would prosper. This quote id false because there in no way to know who is “good” and who is “bad” due to everyone having a different understanding of what is good and what is bad. Some people believe that those who don’t go to church are bad but in reality many people who don’t go to church have better morals than those who do go to church yet the fact they don’t makes them seem bad. Another way this quote is false is that if someone were truly “good” then they wouldn’t stand around and watch as evil prospered. One piece of literature that proves this quote true is The Crucible by Arthur Miller through his use of characterization and conflict. As stated above the quote “Evil Triumphs when good men do nothing” is false due to the elusive from in which “good men” is used. In The Crucible Arthur Millers’ use of characterization proves this quote false. The Crucible is a play about the domino affect which wild accusations about witchcraft caused in a small religious town known as Salem’s Village. In The Crucible Arthur Miller shows that people are ignorant and only care about their well being. Arthur Miller shows this through the characteristics of Parris, Abigail, Marry Warren, and the town’s people. The false accusations all started when Reverend Paris questions his niece, Abigail about dancing naked in the woods...
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...In Act three of “The Crucible,” during the altercation between Judge Danforth and Reverend Hale, Judge Danforth’s argument was extremely flawed. There were many instances when Danforth was talking, where he used logical fallacies. Compared to Reverend Hale, who used almost none, and had very sound reasoning. The first example of Judge Danforth’s erroneous argument came across when Hale challenged the credibility of the court system, saying there was “a prodigious fear” of the court in Salem. Furious with Reverend Hale for coming after his reputation, Danforth retaliated claiming, “No uncorrupted man may fear this court, Mr. Hale! None!” Judge Danforth broadly states that no righteous person could fear the law. Essentially saying that everyone...
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...The Crucible Act Three Questions Short Response Answer the following questions based on your knowledge of the drama. Write a response on a separate sheet of paper. 1. Describe one piece of evidence that Giles, Francis, or Proctor bring before the court to show that the girls are lying. 2. What does Abigail do to distract Danforth from Hale’s accusations that she is lying? 3. How does Hale show that he believes that the court is not doing the right thing? Use three details from the text in your response. 4. Danforth explains that “. . . a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between.” What conclusion can you draw about Danforth’s character from this line? 5. How does Hale excuse Elizabeth’s lie about Abigail’s affair with Proctor? 6. Danforth explains that witchcraft is an invisible crime and that only the victims are reliable. How does his philosophy flame the hysteria? Use details from the drama to support your response. 7. How do Hale and Parris try to thwart each other, or act as foils, in regards to Danforth and the court? Use details from the drama to support your response. 8. Describe the point at which you think the plot reaches its highest intensity, or climax. 9. After the outbreak in court, Mr. Danforth makes the following short statement to Mr. Hale: I will have nothing from you, Mr. Hale! In your own words, describe what Mr. Hale has said or done to instigate Mr. Danforth’s...
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...The Crucible, reputation is an ongoing theme in the story. It is extremely important to many of the people in Salem. During the witch trials, many did not lie and confess to witchcraft, such as John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse. They would rather die with their honest integrity than to live with a tainted one. Due to this, many innocent people were hung. However, the strongest example that supports the theme of reputation would be one of the most corrupt men in Salem, Reverend Parris. First of all, in the beginning of the story Betty Parris is in a strange coma. The doctor had not the slightest idea of why Betty would not wake up, and due to this, the town spreads a rumor that witchcraft had caused Betty to fall into the coma. Parris finds out about this, and he immediately recalls when he found her and Abigail in the woods. If the townspeople were to find out that she was dancing in the woods, they would deem her a witch, and that would surely taint his status among the town. His attention shifts from his ill daughter to figuring out ways to keep his daughter and niece’s dancing a...
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...by some supernatural force for doom or at least to great suffering. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Salem was in a period of time where witch hunts were frequent which created chaos throughout the town. These witch hunts often targeted innocent, hard working people who were accused of witchery with no actual evidence. As a result when this conflict introduced itself to John Proctor, he exhibited tragic hero traits such as pride, catharsis, and nobleness. Pride plays an interesting role in the life of John Proctor in The Crucible. During the trials, Proctor daily wages an internal, war between his conscience and pride. His prideful mindset is what primarily caused his downfall; a person who rises and falls because of their own ignorant flaw, which is the true meaning of a tragic hero. Therefore there are several traits that exemplify a tragic hero in John...
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...Arthur Miller's, The Crucible, Reverend Hale, perhaps one of the men who are to blame for the trials, is a prime example of one’s desire to be accepted and needed all while questioning the actions of society. His transformation from an overzealous scholar to a man who regrets his own actions contributes to the meaning of the play. In Act I of the play, Reverend Hale was called over to Salem from a nearby village to examine Parris’s daughter, Betty, for signs of witchcraft. Miller describes Hale as an “eager-eyed intellectual,” who saw this call as a “beloved errand.” Miller continues to write how, “he [Reverend Hale] felt the pride of the specialist whose unique knowledge [of witchcraft and diabolism] has at last been publicly called for.” With this description of Hale, the audience can sense his eagerness to please those who called upon him. Practically blinded by this opportunity to show off his knowledge of the situation, Hale almost immediately jumps to the possibility of witchcraft and pushes for the confessions and testimonies of...
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...The Salem witch trials are notoriously known for the killings of innocent inhabitants of Salem. Some say the cause of their deaths could be traced back to Salem’s strict social order. The structure of 1600’s Salem was very religion-based as it was woven into everyday life. The government was a theocracy, the priests were highly respected, and anyone who went against the government was considered evil. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible unveils the realistic effect of social order on one’s personal freedom. Because religion was so vital in 1600’s Salem’s social order, the inhabitants suffered from a lack of personal freedom. The structure of the Puritan society in colonial Massachusetts served an important role in the setting of The Crucible. The...
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...more than a minor things. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller change in characters throughout the play cause many people to lose their life. The way that people change throughout the play, the people of the town start to think the girls are wrong in accusing everyone. In the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller each of the characters of Proctor, Hale, and Parris change from the beginning to the end of the play. Proctor becomes more honest, Hale becomes more skeptical of his mission, and Paris finds a shred of humanity inside himself. Throughout the course of the play, John Proctor changes for the best by becoming more honest with himself and everyone...
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