Preview

The Crucible Research Paper

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
325 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Crucible Research Paper
The Crucible Essay There are three characters that are the most responsible for the witch trials in Salem, which are Abigail Williams for trying to avoid punishment for dancing in the woods and for jealousy towards Elizabeth Proctor, Reverend Samuel Parris for trying to protect his good name and his daughter and niece, and Reverend John Hale for being so convinced about the devil running loose in Salem and connecting every minor flaw with witchcraft, even though he later has a change of heart. Out of these three characters only two were thinking to fool the others, Abigail and Parris. Hale, on the other hand, was just a confident man that did everything by the book and thought that was the best way to do it, something we find out when he

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Coming into the Town of Salem, Massachusetts Reverend Hale illustrates a great deal of confidence with his knowledge and belief of witchcraft in Act I. Hale is known for being an expert on witch craft and as a “spiritual doctor”. Which he thinks very highly of as well when first comes to Salem. He sets his mind to persecuting the citizens…

    • 276 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Reverend John Hale and John Proctor both thought they could reverse the hysteria in salem, they didn’t understand the forces that were against them. Hale in chapter one comes to salem as the spirit doctor to evaluate the witchcraft activity in salem, he thought anything he found in salem, he had encountered, during the progress of the book, he changed from a mind so stern, to a rounded mind that inevitably tried to save the remaining lives the court had condemned. Both men became the tragic heroes.…

    • 454 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Before the Salem Witch Trials even occur and even early in the proceedings, Reverend Hale arrives in Salem with a concrete commitment to authority. He comes to Salem with a determined objective to investigate the situation and to use his expertise in witchcraft to aid the people of Salem in their bedlam. He is not only considered an expert in witchcraft, but he also considers himself an expert in witchcraft. With an air of pride, Reverend Hale places a certain emphasis on doing things in a precise and respectable manner. He relies heavily on the power of the written word and pays no heed to superstition. For…

    • 1297 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    A morally ambiguous character who I thought played a pivotal role in the Salem witch hunt was Reverend John Hale. At first, Hale was completely convinced that the witchcraft occurring in Salem was in fact reality and was determined to get rid of it whatever way possible. He was constantly researching the source of witchcraft itself and how to destroy it. He investigated Betty Parris and the Putnam’s daughter to gather clues and evidence as to why these events are happening. He also talks with Abigail Williams and Tituba and aks them if they ever recruited others to be followers of the devil. Later in the act, Hale’s confidence and determination starts to slip as he cannot find legitimate evidence as to why these events are occurring.…

    • 432 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    During the act, Hale begins to realize some hypocrisy and corruption on the court’s part. It can be observed throughout this act that Hale is actively trying to suggest that those accused of witchcraft have a chance to defend themselves, yet is cut off by the likes of Reverend Parris, Salem’s local minister, at one point. Hale goes as far as to make an argument to the judge, Danforth, that “it does not follow that everyone accused is part of it,” “it” being witchcraft. Danforth proceeds to shoot down Hale’s arguments with arguments of his own telling him “No uncorrupted man may fear this court.” Time and time again, Hale attempts to suggest that those accused have a chance to defend themselves yet has his suggestions shot down by Judge Danforth. As John Proctor is falsely accused and taken to jail near the end of the Act, Hale “denounces the proceedings” and quits the court. It is clear that he doubted Abigail William’s testimony as shown in his outcries and even explicitly stating that “This girl has always struck me false!” in reference to Abigail. It is shown in him quitting the court that he longer believes those convicted, and accused, are…

    • 873 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    John Hale was one of the most influential ministers associated with the witch trials. His goal is light, goodness, and its preservation, and ultimately defeat the devil. He shared his goals with all of Salem, traveling from town to town to locate and end any suspected evil of the town. Later on though, he began to doubt the validity of his own conclusions. Coming to realization that the town is acting hysterical. He turns up hoping to save some lives. He councils convicted witches to confess to bring about the truth of all the trials so that they won't be hanged, or be brought upon a lesser sentence. Hale was now counseling people to lie. He has ultimately lost all faith in the law, and there's a good chance his faith in God is becoming questionable as well. Being noted as having initially supported the trials and then changing his mind and publishing a critique of them.…

    • 236 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hale changes-- although he does not lose faith in Puritanism, he does lose faith in the court and the ideals of the society in Salem. Hale arrives as an educated religious scholar who is brought to find the truth behind the witchery. He means well but ends up turning from the court and becomes incapable of stopping the executions. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, Reverend Hale was able to use his intelligence to save himself from falling into adopting the perspective of justice of society. By being exposed to the residents of Salem, Hale gained the capability to see the truth, leading to desperate attempts to restore justice in a society full of insensible beliefs. Despite the victims’ innocence they will be seen guilty by society. At the end…

    • 948 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He is becoming more cynical and reasonable that he begins to interview the people of Salem to discover the truth. Reverend Hale goes to question the Proctors without the knowledge of the court because Goody Proctor is the ideal christian woman, but is still being prosecuted by the court on accounts of witchcraft. He confronts John Proctor to ask him if he has “ no belief that there may even be witches in the world” (Miller 40 ). This shows that Hale is worried and curious about what truly is going on. When John Proctor gets convicted in Act III due to Abigail’s transparent schemes, Hale’s confidence in witches is completely shattered. He is completely fed up with the situation and tell Judge Danforth that he will not “dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it” (Miller 214). He quits the court and storms out of the scene in pure anger. Knowing the misjustice going on in Salem Reverend Hale begs John Proctor to sign the statement that is a lie, but will save his life. As the novel progressed, Reverend Hale began to be more reasonable and open to other’s opinions leading him to become a vague man who is fully against the…

    • 540 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    It can be argued that in the play The Crucible, Reverend John Hale’s character’s arrogance and ignorance caused him to begin the Witch Trials of Salem, Massachusetts, and in the end could not do enough to stop them. He undergoes a significant change as the play progresses.…

    • 879 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the beginning, Rev. Hale was dedicated, knowledgeable, and certain in the trials, but as the story rolled on, he starts to feel unhappy about how the trial was going and then lost all faith in the court system at the end of the play. In act one, Hale came to the town of Salem with his understanding of the trials as well as a stack of heavy books; he comforted the people telling them to not be hasty. In act three, Hale realized that there isn't at all any witchcraft in Salem, only corruption. At this point, Hale’s understanding of the trials altogether altered him to doubt the court and leave the trials. In the end, Hale’s dedication…

    • 614 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Reverend Hale speaks of how so many have been accused that the Devil is in Salem. A simple pointing of the finger has led multiple people to be hung. This power of pointing the finger is abused by Abigail to accuse and incite hysteria in the people of Salem. Her extreme acting overrides the reasoning of the public and causes them to think with emotion and fear. Mary Warren falls prey to Abigail’s antics and betrays Proctor because of it. Abigail with the other girls accused of witchcraft act as though they are being controlled by someone else or feel a cold draft. These anomalies scare the people of Salem driving them to hysteria. The unsuspected accusation of witchcraft towards many townspeople caused Salem as a whole to become enveloped in hysteria. In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, hysteria is prevalent in the way Abigail Williams incites the other girls, Marry Warren’s sudden change of sides, and Salem as a…

    • 849 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In The Crucible, Arthur Miller conveys various themes relating the HUAC trials to the Red Scare and many occurring events in the world today. The Red Scare was a time of fear and agony of communism for many citizens in the United States. In this play, John Proctor is an individual who is well respected in the town of Salem for his hard working reputation. He faces many struggles and life or death situations that test his morals. John struggles through his resistance in a relationship with Abigail, confessing to his sin in the court, and by showing respect for himself and others when he tears up the document proving his confession. In his play, Arthur Miller conveys the theme of standing up for what’s right, even in the worst case of injustice through his character John Proctor.…

    • 411 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Entering these trials, Reverend Hale feels as though he is an expert on witchcraft. He is specifically called upon by Reverend Parris to diagnose his daughter and determine whether witchcraft is the cause of her illness (Act I Pg. 33-35). Although ambivalent about the nature of the child’s illness, Hale has a slight feeling of doubt that witchcraft has occurred. He understands that the townspeople are trying to lead him with false pretenses and mass hysteria toward the conclusion that witchcraft has occurred. He begins to see a weakness in the townspeople of Salem and tries not to let hearsay accusations be the support for his verdict.…

    • 994 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Crucible Analysis

    • 425 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In 1692 the Salem Witch Trials were held to hang people suspected of witchcraft. Arthur Miller researched these trials and wrote “The Crucible.” Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” began with a group of girls,led by Abigail Williams,getting caught dancing naked in the forest, presumably performing witchcraft. The townspeople were all in paranoia and convicting women of witchcraft,one of the convicted women is Elizabeth Proctor,the wife of the protagonist John Proctor.Arthur Miller shows how fear can lead to blame through the wavering,timid, and dishonest nature of Mary Warren,who is John Proctor’s servant.…

    • 425 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Crucible Essay

    • 654 Words
    • 3 Pages

    An outlook on gender roles in today ‘s advanced society is drastic contrast to the views portrayed in the crucible written by Arthur Miller depicts women as weak . None of the females in crucible posses extreme power but the truthful pre-hearted and family oriented women seemed to be even less powerful than the others . Therefore, Miller has also shown women sufferance In crucible through interpretive evidence on how tituba was being accused for all witchcraft and how she demolished the puritan society rules. According to the document women are not as inferior as men , despite how literate they are , their always fictionalize as barmaids, bitches, whores, or brainless housewives .…

    • 654 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays