Reverend Hale Character Analysis

A powerful character in The Crucible is Reverend Hale. Reverend John Hale of Beverly, first appears answering the call of witchcraft at the Parris household. Hale is considered to be one of the good characters in The Crucible, and the most developed. He is a very kind man who feels himself allied with some of the best intellectuals. Reverend Hale often is portrayed as a well groomed young man, this might have to do with symbolism, as the youth are usually the ones that are able to change their ways more easily, but older people have a harder time. This might have to do with how much he changes in The Crucible. Reverend Hale is a powerful character because he is a man of knowledge. Hale is also powerful because he is a good man and doesn’t care
Often a man that has specialty in this time period was respected, especially when it is a specialty having to do with religion. In the beginning of act 1 he comes in as almost a doctor as it says, (Miller36) “Reverend Hale conceives of himself much as a young doctor on his first call.”. This shows he felt like he was like a doctor in the way they respected him. A doctor is usually a healer so he was going to heal their kids from the devils touch. He also gives Elizabeth convincing advice at the end, (132)”Beware, Goody Proctor--cleave to no faith when faith brings blood. It is mistaken law that leads you to sacrifice.”. This statement shows that he realized his own mistakes, and now he doesn’t want Elizabeth to do the same thing. In this he also seems to be the only logical person in the room, realizing that this is a ignorant decision, if he chooses to save his pride over lying for his life. Reverend Hale also shows his wisdom when he comes in and people, tell him stuff that's very vague he says this,(38) “We cannot look to superstition in this. The Devil is precise; the marks of presence are as definite as stone”. This shows he is not provoked by a silly paranoia. He is wise and knows better then go off of some silly little thing that annoyed a village person. Reverend Hale is a powerful character because he is wise, this is shown by him feeling as if he’s a doctor, his good advice at
Reverend John Hale of Beverly, is known well as a specialist of witchcraft, and a religious authority figure. When Hale comes to Elizabeth’s house to question them he says this, “I thought, sir, to put some questions as to the Christian character of this house, if you’ll permit me.”. Showing he has religious authority to interrogate them of their religion. This is also shown in act 4, when Hale leaves the court Danforth is devastated, because he was a big religious presence. Reverend Hale shows that he is a powerful religious figure when Herrick says this, “He goes among them that will hang, sir. And he prays with them.”. This proves that even after going to Andover and preaching to the rebellion. He has come back to save his old friends where it all started. Showing them that we can not interpret god’s word and pray for them. He also says this when asking Elizabeth to plead with Proctor, “Quail not before God’s judgement in this, for it may well be God damns a liar less than he that throws his life away for pride.”. Reverend Hale is trying to save innocents lives as trying to interpret God’s word in a different way, proving he’s a powerful religious figure. Reverend Hale is powerful because he is a religious figure, this is shown by when he interrogates the Proctor’s of their religion. This is also shown by him coming back and praying for the ones to be hanged, and trying to interpret God’s word to save