The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller Essay Example for Free

The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller Essay We soon see another side to Hale. Abigail mentions Tituba and Hale requests to see her. Hale is quite convinced on meeting Tituba that she is compacting with the Devil and that she has bewitched Betty. He orders Tituba to wake her but when Tituba says she cannot Hale turns angrier and Parris threatens her with whipping. It is not long until Tituba is drawn into making accusations with Abigail and certain names get repeated. Hale is now convinced that the work of the Devil is going on in Salem At the end of Act One, we see how much Hale has a very strong belief in God and that God is with the people of Salem because he announces, Glory to God! It is broken, they are free! Hale enters Act Two at the end. He is drawn a little, and there is a quality of deference, even of guilt about his manner now. He explains how the girls have mentioned Rebecca Nurse and he has just come from her house. He is now on the outside, absolutely certain that it is the work of the Devil going on in Salem, No man may longer doubt the powers of dark are gathered in monstrous attack upon this village. There is too much evidence now to deny it. However, I do feel that Hale is torn between what he feels emotionally, that so many outrageous accusations are being made and therefore something is wrong, and what he feels he must do, keep looking for signs of the Devil in the people of Salem. At the end of Act Two, we see Herrick come to the Proctor household. He has come to arrest Elizabeth by order of the court. Hale seems shocked and speaks with uncertainty about Elizabeths link with the Devil but goes on trusting that God will prevail, I shall pray God open up our eyes. In Act Three Hale has changed somewhat. Hale is not convinced at all with Elizabeth Proctors link with the Devil and also with many other people being held by the court. He is now starting to think and speak what the audience reading the play would be thinking and saying. When Elizabeth Proctor defends her husbands name by lying in the court, Hale cries out, Excellency, it is a natural lie to tell: I beg you stop now before another is condemned! This means that Hale thinks that the people who have been condemned are innocent and it cannot go on. He speaks exactly what everyone reading the play will be thinking in their heads. By the end of Act Three I dont think that there is any doubt I the readers head and that of Hales that the witchcraft is being made up and that Abigail is behind the hysteria. This girl has always struck me false! Abigail begins to twist the court away from believing Proctors and Mary Warrens story when they are summoned to the court to talk about the Poppet. She starts to scream and point at the ceiling, insisting that there is a yellow bird up there. The other girls soon follow suit and start to pretend as well. Mary Warren cannot handle this and soon returns to the group of girls where she feels safer. She now lays an accusation of witchcraft on to Proctor. (pointing at Proctor): Youre the Devils man! Hale once again speaks for the audience, You cannot believe them! I see nothing, Your Honour! and Excellency, this childs gone wild! Hale sees that everyone has been engulfed by this mass hysteria and so he walks out of court, he doesnt want to be involved in these false accusations any longer. I denounce these proceedings I quit this court! In Act Four, Hale is no longer the strong, influential character he was at the beginning of the play. He is now trying to get the convicted prisoners to confess so as to save their lives. I think this perhaps show some guilt on Hales head. He was drawn into believing the accusations and freely did his job, basically condemning people to death. Hale asks the people to abandon their principles and confess.