Overview of The Crucible Essay

The Crucible

The Crucible takes place in Boston, Massachusetts in 1962. This play is about a teenager named Abigail who is obsessed with a man named John Proctor. Abigail accuses Elizabeth Proctor, John Proctors wife of witchcraft but everything takes a turn for the worst. Her little game ends up killing many innocent people just to satisfy herself. In doing an epidemic broke out of witchcraft. The character that evolved the most during the course of the play was Reverend John Hale of Beverly.

Reverend Hale was a man that came from a high class in Beverly. He has gone to Salem on his own will. Page 63 act two. When he arrives, Proctor asks him "Business of the court?" and Hale replies "No, I come of my own will, without the courts authority." Hale suspects Elizabeth of witchcraft because Proctor has spoken to Hale about him seeing Elizabeth reading books in the dark at night, but is unsure. He believes that witches do exist, but doesnt accuse anyone until he is certain. Hale is determined to find the witch or witches there in Salem with all his knowledge and education hes had and all the books hes read.

During the play Hale starts observing and learning about everything that is happening in Salem. He sees how Abigail manipulates the girls with fear and how the court is unfair. He sees how innocent people are being condemned by Danforth, the judge and especially Proctor. With all the observing hes done he knows who is really innocent and who isnt but has nothing tangible to prove it. At this point is when his character changes when Proctor is sent to jail and freaks out. Page 120 act three. Hale says "I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court!" Thats when he leaves in anger.

Hale has realized that the judges are not ruling fairly and that the trials are completely unfair and ridiculous. He feels like hes failed because he cannot prove that the condemned are innocent. The only thing he could do to help them is to convince them to sin. He tries to convince Proctor and the others to lie and say that theyve seen and talked with the devil himself in order to save their lives. In the end he couldnt force Proctor to lie which hurt Hale deeply. The day of the hanging of Proctor had come and Hale tries one last time. Page 145 act four. He pleads to Elizabeth "Go to him, take his shame away!", but that still couldnt help.

In conclusion Reverend John Hales character changed very rapidly throughout the course of the play. At first he was this man determined to find the witches of Salem. Then he opened his eyes and started realizing what was really happening in Salem and saw the truth. At the end he put his foot down and tried his hardest to defend the innocent people, but couldnt because of the unfair trials and judges. With all of these events that happened Reverend John Hale changed his view and what occurred in Salem. This makes his character from the beginning of the play to the end look like two different characters.