Question: How does Reverend Hale change throughout the first three acts of The Crucible? Trace his mental metamorphosis from a preacher who believed strongly in the Devil, to a vulnerable man uncertain of the court's justice and his faith. 

Crucible Essay III: Daniel Stewart

            In playwright Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, Reverend Hale is the spark that ignites the witch trials. Yet as the trials continue, Reverend Hale begins to lose his strong belief and finally forgets everything he believes in.

            In “Act I” of playwright Author Miller’s, The Crucible, the character of Reverend Hale is that of a man who believes in the evils of the unseen world very strongly. For when he speaks to Reverend Paris, he says with great pride and understanding:

            Here is all the invisible world,

            Caught defined and calculated.

            In these books the Devil stands

            Stripped of all his brute disguises.

Reverend Hale truly believes that his books will help him in his search for the Devil. When Hale arrived in Salem, he arrived with out any doubt in his mind regarding the Devil. Using his books to find the Devil was his primary goal as he said in Act I:

                        Have no fear now- we shall

                        Find him out if he has come among

                        Us, and I mean to crush him

                        Utterly is he has shown his face!

                                                             (p.1193)

Exposing the Devil and crushing him to pieces is possible in the mind of Reverend Hale. Obviously he has had previous experience and believes he is a professional.

            In a society where Satan and witchcraft is strongly rejected, it is easy to go along with the opinions of the majority. Yet when the majority is wrong, self opinions rise as they did with Reverend Hale:

            I have seen too many frightful

            Proof in court-the Devil is alive

            In Salem, and we dare not quail

To follow where ever the accusing

Finger points.

                        (p.1280)

As Reverend Hale speaks, there is uncertainty in his words. He continuously reassures himself that there is witchcraft in Salem by repeating what his saw in court and what heard among the people. Knowing that Mary Warren’s confession sounded true, Hale tries to cover up his belief in her when he asks in a mocking tone:

            You are certain this be your

            Natural memory? May it be that

            Some one conjures you even now to

            Say this?

                        (p. 1283)

Hale’s past and present reputation is crumbling. The shaking in his voice gives an indication to his beginning metamorphosis.

            In “Act III” of the play, Hale has changed his whole outlook on the witch trials. In court, Hale bursts into anger and shouts while pointing at Abigail, “This girl has always struck me false” (p. 1311). Hale is actually saying that he does not believe a word that comes out of her mouth anymore. This also means that he doesn’t believe in the witches she pointed out. With confusion and misunderstanding, he yells at Judge Danforth, saying, “ I denounce these proceeding I quit this court” (p.1135). The very court proceedings he started because he wanted to crush the Devil, he now denounces and quits. This is the completion of his metamorphosis in the play. Hale is confused and does not know what to believe any more.

            In playwright Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, the truth finally slaps Hale across the face. From the beginning to the end, Hale changes from a strong religious man, to as uncertain soul, into a confused child.