Crabtree 1

Ayleana Crabtree
Mr. Salow
English 11
30 November, 2016
The Crucible Character Analysis
Reverend Hale, who was one of the more agreeable characters within The Crucible,
prided himself on sharing his knowledge of witchcraft, being educated about the supernatural,
and holding an important place in society. Upon first arriving in Salem, Mr. Hale held promise
within the citizens eyes, and they expected him to have the answers to the supposed witchery
taking place. When introduced to Mr. Parris, Hale described his books as being, weighted with
authority (34) so as to sound more credible. Within that same act, Hale proved his reliability by,
in reference to Bettys illness, stating that the devil is precise; the marks of his presence are
definite as stone, and 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 (35). By not immediately assuming that
Betty had been involved in witchcraft, Hale appeared wiser and more trustworthy to everyone in
the room at the time.
Despite his knowledge, Hale suffered a blow to his confidence when Abigail Williams
became enraptured and thanked him for saving her. In that moment, Hale had not wanted to
admit that he had done nothing to help her, so he went along with her charade by shouting glory
to God! It is broken, they are free! (45) Fearing the downfall of his reputation, Hale failed to
point out their liberation for the hoax it was. This incident was merely a stepping stone in the
landslide that would become Reverend Hales faith. Later in the play, Mr. Hale meets with John
Proctor, who has no difficulty in seeing the afflicted girls for what they truly are. Likely in an

Crabtree 2
attempt to silence Proctor, Hale tells him that theology is a fortress (64), and that his
suspicions are cracks capable of breaking it. It is possible that Hale tried to scare Proctor so that
he himself would not have to accept the truth, but in the end found himself believing Proctors
words anyway.
As the witch trials began to intensify and more people started to hang, something inside
Hale seemed to snap. He began defending the accused, pleading their innocence, and praying
that they be saved. The knowledge and education that hed prided himself on was discarded as
the town of Salem was further shattered. When it came time to overturn what the girls had done,
Hale fought desperately alongside John Proctor, Giles Corey, and Francis Nurse. He argued for
the condemnation of the girls instead of the innocent, saying I have signed seventy-two death
warrants; I am a minister of the lord, and I dare not take a life without there be proof! (92) His
words were ignored but still he argued, stop here, send Mr. Proctor home and let him come
again with a lawyer (92). Hale knew at this point that they had all been fooled by a group of
twisted little girls, and he wanted nothing more than to right his wrongs. Sadly, he was too late,
and the landslide tumbled further toward him.
When it became clear that true justice would not take place in Salem, Hale left in a rage,
yelling, I denounce these proceeding, I quit this court (111). The knowledge that hed
depended upon thus far had failed him, his education became useless, and his place in society felt
moot. Hale was like a shattered vase, each shard too small to fit back together. After Salem he
would never be the same, never be whole. He had helped put innocent people to death for the
amusement of children. He had, like God to the Devil, thought the children beautiful until the
moment hed realized theyd fallen. Hale, now battered and ashamed, could do nothing but pray.

Crabtree 3
In the final act of The Crucible, Reverend Hale is nothing more than a shell of the man he
had been before. He takes on a sarcastic tone when speaking with officials of the court and
mocks their ignorance. Hale points out the inevitability of rebellion, stating that there are
orphans wandering from house to house; abandoned cattle bellow on the highroads, the stink of
rotting crops hangs everywhere, and no man knows when the harlots cry will end his life (121).
Salem had become a town governed by fear, and Hale was forced to live with the guilt of having
helped create it. In the final moments of The Crucible, Hale is overcome by the landslide, the lies
and deceit easily sliding over his head like loose stones as he stops resisting. He comes to terms
with the fact that he knew nothing of witchcraft, that he had a poor understanding of the
supernatural, and that he would never want to hold such a high place in society again.