...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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...Reverend Hale Reverend Hale had one of the saddest stories in The Crucible. He went to help during the Salem witch trials with good intentions but ended up hurting more people than he could help. That is why Hale is directly relatable to the song “Starting Over”, by Macklemore. Both Hale and the song are sad and miserable. In The Crucible Hale was a sad, gullible, minister who did not know who was speaking the truth. The song itself is about a sad man who relapsed with his drinking problem. The song also has a mellow sound to it, to make it more miserable. One quote from the song that is relatable to Reverend Hale is “I’m just a flawed man”. Hale messed up a lot in The Crucible and he listened to all of the wrong people....
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...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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...In any book, the transformation of characters is very important. The characters in 2 particular stories are prime examples of this. The character of Reverend Hale from Arthur Miller’s The Crucible has many similarities to the character of Fred Friendly from George Clooney's Good Night and Good Luck. Miller wrote the play to convey the awfulness of the McCarthy trials, and give a warning of what can happen to societies that oppress people. Reverend Hale and Fred Friendly are both examples of people doing the right thing in the face of apathy. Although they may not have been the driving force of good in either of their respective stories, they were certainly examples of a change of heart for the better in the lives of the people around them. In The Crucible, Reverend Hale is a man who is brought into the...
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...way lying is, wrong. Coming up with fiction when the truth needs to be told. John Proctor in The Crucible, is a farmer in a Puritan society. Proctor has a wife, Elizabeth, and three boys, but only two are baptized. In Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, John Proctor was a dishonest man by lying, being dishonest towards Reverend Hale, and betraying his family by being actively involved in adultery. John Proctor is a dishonorable man because he lies.This is an issue because his wife is becoming weary of him. In Act I, John Proctor was alone in a room with Abigail Williams. When Abigail asked how Proctor calls her a child, Proctor replies with, “...I may think of you softly from time to time” (Miller 146). This quote relates directly to Proctor; he states, to Elizabeth, that he does not think...
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...Coming up with fiction when the truth needs to be told. John Proctor in The Crucible, is a farmer in a Puritan society. Proctor has a wife, Elizabeth, and three boys, but only two are baptized. In Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, John Proctor was a dishonest man by lying, being dishonest towards Reverend Hale, and betraying his family by being actively involved in adultery. John Proctor is a dishonorable man because he lies.This is an issue because his wife is becoming weary of him. In Act I, John Proctor was alone in a room with Abigail Williams. When Abigail asked how Proctor calls her a child, Proctor replies with. This quote relates directly to Proctor; he states, to Elizabeth, that he does not think of Abigail in that way anymore. Proctor told two different people two different things in the time frame. In Act II Proctor says that he...
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...Throughout the play The Crucible, several characters undergo change but it is Reverend Hale that changes the most from the beginning to the end. Reverend Hale was summoned from Boston to evaluate Salem and diagnose any witchcraft present. Because of his eagerness to please the town of Salem he is manipulated into doing things that he thinks is right. Notably, Reverend Hale in the end manages to try to help the accused out of the trouble he got them into. In detail, upon arriving in Salem, Reverend Hale is very optimistic and ready for a challenge. In the following quote Hale shows his control over the current situation in Salem “Now let me instruct you. We cannot look to superstition in this. The devil is precise; the marks of his presence...
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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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...The Most Dynamic Character in The Crucible It can be argued that Reverend Hale changes from a character confident in himself and the law, and the existence of witches in Salem, to doubtful and cautious, thus making him the most dynamic character in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”. When he first enters the play, Rev. Hale seems to believe characters who have done nothing prove their trustworthiness. As more and more people are convicted he is less tolerant of the accusations and stands up for those who are being put on trial. It is almost undeniable that Reverend Hale is the most dynamic character in the play. In act 1, when Hale is first introduced, the audience is made aware that Rev. Hale thinks very highly of himself. He is known for his specialty in witchcraft and is very arrogant, thinking of himself as one of “the best minds of Europe” much like the “kings, philosophers, scientists, and ecclesiasts of all churches” (Miller 1115). He is a spiritual man, but does not have as much experience in the subject of witches as he would like, and feels he has to prove himself. By act 2 Hale has begun to accuse those who are seemingly innocent, because of his belief in himself, and the deals of the devil. After Rebecca Nurse, an old Christian woman and Elizabeth Proctor, a young mother’s name are mentioned in court about being a witch or having a deal with the devil, Hale makes an appearance at the Proctors home. He makes it clear that although it seems unlikely for these...
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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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...three-act structure common today, calling the sections protasis, epitasis, and catastrophe. Famous authors like Shakespeare expanded the original divisions into a five-act structure comprised of an exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement. Although it was a four act play, Arthur Miller, author of The Crucible, utilized the five-act structure to further develop his plot. The exposition of a five-act structure introduces the setting, main characters, and conflict of a literary work. The audience gains critical information that is crucial for understanding the...
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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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...As Arthur Miller once stated,“there is prodigious fear in seeking loose spirits.” The theme that the tragedy fiction play, The Crucible, displays is hysteria and desire leads to unconscious consequences. As conveyed throughout the play, hysteria is most clearly observed in the villagers' illogical acceptance of the girls’ claims of witchcraft. Specifically, Act III depicts the idea of mass hysteria devastating the community when the afflicted girls led by Abigail, accuse Mary Warren of witchcraft for testifying against them. Furthermore, several people including Mary Warren have indicated that the witchcraft accusations are false yet the court refuses to be persuaded. Arthur Miller’s play the Crucible was an exaggeration of the Salem witch...
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...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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...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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