Commentary on The Crucible Essay

Those who are self-reliant, honorable, sincere, and dignified will do all they can in order to keep up their precious self image. Yet it takes a noble man to acknowledge their wrong doings. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller the town of Salem, Massachusetts is in total chaos over lie caused by a group of teenage girls. Reverend Hale, an expert in demonology comes to town to stop the hysteria. He later finds himself fighting a battle between what is right and his morals and beliefs. He believes in the end that there is no principal worth taking lives, and he fights for justice for the people of Salem.

Reverend Hales faith and his beliefs somewhat divide him as an individual. Hale is called to Salem to diagnose witchcraft if it is present. Hales good intentions and sincere desire to help the afflicted motivate him in the beginning.

In fact when he arrives in Salem the amount of evidence of witchcraft overwhelms him. Although hale remains determined not to declare witchcraft unless he can prove it, the expectations of the people of Salem sweep him up. As a result he takes their evidence at face value, rather than investigating it himself. Unforchantly, Hale is also vulnerable. His zeal for discovering witchcraft allows others particularly Abigail, to manipulate him.

In addition this leads to 19 innocent people being hung. Tituba (Parriss black slave) accuses Sarah Good and Goody Osbourne of witchcraft after Hale interrogates her and forces her to tell him who she has sent under the Devils influence: Tituba, you are chosen to help cleanse our village. So speak utterly, Tituba, turn youre back on him [the Devil] and face God (1262) Hale initiates the hysteria of the accusations in Salem with the pressure he puts on Tituba to give him names (he had also threatened to whip her to death). In finding the root of the evil he continued to make seemingly impressive accusations and fulfill his duty of keeping away the devil. Hale being assure of his discoveries of the participation in witchcraft states: I have myself examined, Tituba, Sarah Good, and numerous other that have confessed to dealing with the Devil. They have confessed it. (1278) He believed that his own examination of the persons was enough evidence for the accusation of witchcraft.

As the ridiculousness of the court rises, Hale begins to oppose the actions it takes. For example, Hale pleads with Danforthe, the judge, to let Proctor return to court later with a lawyer while he is being interrogated, and which Danforthe rejects the idea. Danforthe possesses the ultimate power of the court is presenting and beings his objection to it. In addition, after Danforthe falsely arrests Giles and Proctor of witchcraft, Hale quits the court: I denounce these preceding! I quit the court. He can no longer accept the distinctly false prosecutions Danforthe continues to make. The accusations reach a point where even the lawful Hale can no longer ignore its ludicrousness. Through these actions, Hale proves his change from the extreme of all for the court to the extreme of being against it.

During this time, a sense of goodness overcomes his previous interrogative and intimidating attitude. For example, Hale states that he will not take the life of any innocent person: I am a minister of the Lord, and I dare not take a life without there be proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscious may doubt it(1299). He realizes that the evil was not in the supposed witches, but in the hunt to eradicate the possible menaces to the Salem society. He exemplifies his newfound understanding of Gods will and attempts to use it in order to halt the trails. In addition, once John Proctor is given the option to confess to witchery and live, or deny it and be hanged, Hale tells his wife that life is the most important gift: It is mistaken laws that lead you to sacrifice. Life, woman, life is Gods most precious gift; no principal, however glorious, may justify the taking of it (1302). After contributing to the death of the first few people persecuted, he realizes the integrity of the life and that it cannot be wasted. He recognizes that he had mistakenly contributed to the death of those in the trails, and now wants to put an end to the hangings and save the lives of those undeserving of death. Hale demonstrates his change in ideals by becoming emotionally involved in the situation and allowing himself to try to protect the innocent victims.

Hale changes from being in favor of the witch trials to opposing it because of the obviously innocent people that are sentenced to death. The Reverend is able to see his sins and the evils around him, and he reveal his strength and will in standing up for what he knows is right. He shows the reader that it is not ones reputation or fulfilling a job that is justifiable to God, but ones ability to protect his will of righteousness.