Examples Of Close Mindedness In The Crucible

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The Crucible is a famous play written by Arthur Miller. This play centers around the witch trials that took place in Salem, Massachusetts. In Act II, Abigail and her friends accuse several innocent people of witchcraft. Once they leave the court, Reverend Hale goes to John Proctor’s house to inform Elizabeth Proctor that people in the court have mentioned her name. Then officials of the court, Herrick and Cheever, arrive at the Proctor’s house. They claim to have a warrant for Elizabeth’s arrest because the court declares she practices witchcraft. After, Herrick and Cheever take Elizabeth to jail. Injustice in Act II prevails because of the inability to see the truth. Reverend Hale and John Proctor illuminate the theme that closed-mindedness …show more content…

Rebecca Nurse has the belief that not everyone in Salem has the ability to practice magic. Although, she does her best to convince Reverend Hale that this is true, he does not agree and quickly judges her as well. As Hale spoke to Francis, he mentioned that “though our hearts break we cannot flinch; these are new times [...] the devil is alive in Salem and we dare not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points (854).” Reverend Hale means that they must not go against the court, even if his heart tells him differently. While eating dinner with several important court officials, a poppet stabs Abigail. After witnessing Mary Warren testify that the poppet which allegedly stabbed Abigail was made by her, Hale still “[could not] judge [Elizabeth Proctor] guilty or innocent.” Reverend Hale says that there will be chaos if John Proctor blames the witch trials on “the vengeance of a little girl” (861). Then, as Reverend Hale witnessed Mary Warren confess, he still believed that Elizabeth should go to jail. If Hale was not so stuck in his ways, he would see that Elizabeth is innocent of witchcraft. Hale should not have let the court officials take her to jail. Overall, Reverend Hale’s closed-mindedness keeps him from seeing that Elizabeth is

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