The Crucible: Reverend John Hale – A Dynamic Character Essay, Research Paper

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.