Essay/Term paper: The crucible: reverend john hale - a dynamic character

Essay, term paper, research paper:  The Crucible

The Crucible: Reverend John Hale - A Dynamic Character


In literature, there are different types of characters. There are the
types of characters that change during the story and some that don't, dynamic
and static. There is also how the character is described in the story. They
might be flat, meaning the character is stereotyped, or he might be rounded,
being the author described him in such a way as to just barely know him enough
to tell the story. In the play The Crucible by Author Miller, Reverend John
hale is a dynamic rounded character.

In Act I, the reverend is described as an eager-eyed intellectual
pondering the invisible world. Hale seeks witches and gets them to confess, so
god can bless them and rid them of the devil. An example of this is when he
said to Betty, "In nomine Domini Sabaoth sui filiique ite ad infernos," which
means: In the name of the lord of hosts and his son get thee to the lower world.
This shows reverend Hales views on witchery. Another example of Hale's
character and his savings of witches is when he said, "Now Tituba, I know that
when we bind ourselves to Hell it is very hard to break with it. We are going
to help you tear yourself free-"

The point when Reverend Hale begins to change is in Act III during the
trial of John Proctor. "I am a minister of the lord, and I dare not take a life
without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may
doubt it." He starts to doubt if the very thing that he searches to rid the
people of might be a lie.

Let you not mistake your duty as I mistook my own...where I turned the
eye of my great faith, blood flowed up. Beware Goody Proctor-cleave to
no faith when faith brings blood. Reverend Hale realizes his job of finding
and ridding the world of witches is false. "It is mistaken law that leads you
to sacrifice." He no longer believes in witches. Hale urges Goody Proctor to
get her husband to confess to save his life.

Reverend Hale's character changed from believing in witches and saving
their souls from the devil to saving their lives from a lie. The cause of this
is from interrogating the people of Salem of witchcraft,
...I find it hard to draw a clear opinion of them that come accused
before the court." "...life is God's most precious gift; no principle,
however glorious, may justify the taking of it...God damns a liar less than he
that throws his life away for pride.