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Reverend Hale Changes In The Crucible

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People’s opinions change as they face adversities throughout life. The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a play based on the actual events that, in 1692, led to the Salem Witch Trials, a series of hearings before local magistrates to prosecute over 150 people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. Reverend Hale goes through a change after realizing the witch trials are corrupt manslaughter. In Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible,” Reverend Hale’s attitude towards the witchcraft trials changes from pride in the court to distraught through his development during Act 1, Acts 2 and 3, and Act 4. Reverend Hale’s shows pride in the Salem witch trials throughout Act 1. When Martha Corey and Rebecca Nurse, are accused …show more content…

As Hale talks to Danforth, he claims to “come to do the Devil’s work.” Hale is doing the Devils work by slaughtering all these people. He says this sarcastically because it shows the irony how he is killing innocent people although he is a reverend. The accusations reach a point where Hale can no longer ignore the corruption of the court. Hale exemplifies his new understanding of God's will and attempts to use it to stop the trials. John Proctor is given the option to confess to witchery and live, or lie and hang. Hale tells Elizabeth that “Life, woman, life is God's most precious gift.” Distraught by the thought of aiding in the death of innocent people, he realizes the value of life and that it cannot be wasted. After leaving the court Judge Danforth claims “That man have no authority to enter here.” Hale was once a reverend that had great pride in the court but now his peers will not even allow him to enter the court anymore. Hale was once a distinguished Reverend but now his opinion doesn’t matter in his own profession. Reverend Hale shows distraught in the Salem Witch Trials during Act 4 with his actions, statements, and through other people’s opinions of

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