Crucible - hale
Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible in response to a period in American history when there was widespread fear of communism. It is set in the sixteen nineties, during the infamous Salem Witch Trials. Salem was governed as a Theocracy, rule by God or a priestly order. In this time many innocent people were tried and hanged for witchcraft. A crucible is a severe trial. In the play the whole community had been thrown into pandemonium, but a few characters are also fighting internal conflicts and trials of their own. Rev. John Hale is one of these characters. He battles with himself whether to carry out his job and his beliefs or do what he knows is right. As the play develops his moral transition can be followed and his role in the play is evident.Hale has more than one function in The Crucible. Initially he acts as the expert who puts facts behind the girls' accusations. He fuels the hysteria when he refers to the 'stricken' Betty by saying, "If she is in the Devils grip we may have to rip and tear to get her free" (p39). This statement fills the community with fear; enough to make them blindly follow anything to save their children. At the end of the play Hale acts as an indicator of the strength of the human heart by
In the first Act, Miller presents Hale as a righteous man, certain of his task. This can be seen in his statement, "Have no fear now-we shall find him out if he has come among us, and I mean to crush him utterly if he has shown his face!" (p39). What unfolds in the trials changes him dramatically, and this can be seen in its fullest when compared with his character at the end of the play. Here he is seen to have a heavy conscience and is striven with desperation at saving innocent people's lives. This is easily viewed when he says, "I come of my own, Goody Proctor. I would save your husband's life, for if he is taken I count myself his murderer." (p131). In the first Act, Hale is sure about his beliefs and feels he is carrying out the desires of God. When Hale arrives he is righteous and certain of his task. With him he brings the pride of a 'specialist'. He has been summoned to 'ascertain witchcraft' and by the end of Act 1, he has made up his mind as to its presence in the village seen when he shouts, "Let the marshal bring irons!" (p48). After this Act Hale begins his transition. going against all that he held dear; thus promoting one of Miller's themes in the play - beliefs. Fear fills the community in Act 2, which feeds the girls' strength, and hysteria prevails while Hale has been kept busy with his witch hunting. The beginning of his transition is first clear when he is shown visiting the house of the Proctors (and others) on his own accord when he states, "...I come of my own, without the court's authority." (p63). This is shown best as he begins his statements with, "I have-..." (p66) throughout this Act. He still holds his beliefs and duty tight but
Some common words found in the essay are:
Rebecca Nurse, Act Hale, Crucible Initially, Miller Hale, Trials Salem, God Hale, John Hale, Arthur Miller, Goody Proctor, final speech, final stage, innocent people, fills community, stage transition, final stage transition, rebecca nurse, righteous task, act hale,
Approximate Word count = 1137
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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