The Crucible John Hale Analysis

Miller’s play, The Crucible, is a fictional representation of the Salem Witch Trials, which occurred from 1692-1693 in colonial Massachusetts. He wrote the play to humanize the people involved, and to try and interpret their possible motivations to do all that they did. One particular character Miller focuses on is Reverend John Hale. Hale first appears in Act One, when the citizens of Salem summon him for his expertise on witchcraft. His presence sparks the witch hunts within Salem. Hale goes from being the main accuser and the investigator to later condemning the witch trials and the court’s rulings. Miller displays this change of view through the use of commentary, dialogue, and stage directions.

Hale is portrayed at first as being the

investigator, through Miller’s added background and commentary. One can tell how enthusiastic and naïve Hale is when Miller wrote “Coming into Salem now, Reverend Hale conceives of himself much as a young doctor on his first call. His painfully acquired armory of symptoms, catchwords, and diagnostic is now to be put to use at last… His goal is light, goodness and its preservation…” (20). Hale, eager and with good intentions, comes to town determined to find and destroy any presence of witchcraft. This determination and confidence leads him to be the main investigator.
A true investigator considers both sides of an argument, and uses critical thinking rather than jumping to rash conclusions. By this definition, Hale is a true investigator. He says to those present during his observation of Betty “No, no. Now let me instruct you. We cannot look to superstition in this… 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” (21). Even though he approaches the issue point-blank, the townsfolk don’t listen to him and spin the concept of witchcraft out of control.
Hale does all he can to understand what is going on, but can’t help but be an interloper in the situation.

There are many secrets and hidden feuds circulating in the town of Salem that he is unaware of when he first arrives. It takes Hale a long time to come to terms with how wicked the town has become, and how they use witchcraft as an excuse to get even with those they feel have wronged them. He gets caught up in the trials, even acting alongside the court. Once the truth about Abigail Williams and her followers is revealed by John Proctor to be a scam, he vocalizes what he’s really thinking “I believe him! This girl has always struck me as false!” (50), “You cannot believe them!” (51), and finally “I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court!”

(52).
After the court decides to follow Abigail William’s lies and gets caught up in proceedings, Hale plays devil’s advocate by begging those on death row to confess to the lie in order to save their lives.

He particularly approaches Elizabeth Proctor on behalf of her husband, saying “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… and where I turned the eye of my great faith, blood flowed up… cleave to no faith which brings blood… life is God’s most precious gift; no principle… may justify the taking of it… 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” (58). Hale is trying desperately to save the life of John Proctor, whom he knows will die to save his honor. Unfortunately, John and many others die despite Hale’s efforts.

Thus Hale comes to the belief that pride, resulting in the loss of any life, is a worse sin than lying. He knows now that life is more valuable than anything else, as it is one of God’s greatest gifts to man. He doesn’t believe that one should perish because of the sins of another person. He is a great example as a person who chases the truth and catches it. Once he finds the truth, he fights for it. That is truly

admirable.