Through the Salem witch trials, twenty-four innocent people lost their lives due to betrayal. They were hung because they were accused and found to be guilty of witchcraft. In reality, everyone that was accused and had died were innocent, but used as targets by others to save their own lives. In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, out of fear, Abigail Williams, Mary Warren, Mercy Lewis, and Reverend Hale betrayed their morals to save themselves. As a result of betrayal, lives were taken, relationships were ruined, and trusts were broken. Out of fear, Abigail betrayed Tituba, Sarah Good, Goody Osburn, and Mary Warren. While in the court in Salem, Hale was questioning Abigail about what had happened in the woods the night before. Reverend Parris, …show more content…
Hale was the only character out of the others that didn’t try to save his life. He tried to save others’ lives. Abigail betrayed Tituba by accusing her of witchcraft and making her drink blood. She betrayed Sarah Good and Goody Osburn, when she said she saw them with the devil, which sent them to jail and later, the gallows. Abigail betrayed Mary by accusing her of sending a cold wind at her, a shadow, and a yellow bird while in the court. Mary betrayed John by telling the judges that he made her sign her name in the Devil’s book. As a result, he was later hung. Mercy betrayed Mary and Parris. She joined in on convincing the judges that Mary was sending wind at her, causing her to, ‘freeze,’ and a bird at her and the other girls as well as Abigail. Hale betrayed the court as well as his own religious beliefs. Hale betrayed the court, trying to save John, and prevent more hangings, which was against the court’s request. He betrayed his beliefs of religion because he no longer had faith in a religion that allowed the church to hang innocent people. As a result of fear and betrayal, twenty-four innocent people died in the Salem witch
(35) This shows that Hale is so involved in his work that he could possibly end up accusing someone who was not guilty of witchcraft. Hale seems overly conscious about his own life and his duty to serve the people to find the devil in Salem; he doesn’t seem to like the idea that he himself could be wicked. This shows that Hale too, did not show himself to be truthful and courteous when it came to the
The significance of this characteristics that Hale possess is generates the execution of many innocent members of the town of Salem. It reveals how greatly he affects the events in the
Since Abigail knows that everyone will believe Reverend Hale, she gets nervous when he starts to question her of doing witchcraft so in order to save herself, she blames Tituba and it shows that Reverend Hale is most responsible for the outburst of
During the late 17th century a total of 200 people were accused of participating in witchcraft, while 19 people lost their lives to the mass hysteria. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, a group of girls start a huge uproar in Salem, Massachusetts when they start screeching about Salemites being associated with the Devil. Throughout the play write, it shows the consequences of mass hysteria and how it puts people's lives in danger. Abigail Williams causes a wave of mass hysteria and because of her trickery, innocent people have died by her and the other girl’s actions, for this Abigail is the most unforgivable character in The Crucible.
When he first enters Salem it seems his head is held high with knowledge and determination, but he will not allow any conclusions to be made unless they are from his books that guide him through witchcraft cases. After Abigail reveals she did not see the devil, Hale immediately makes an accusation and suspiciously asks, “Why are you concealing? Have you sold yourself to Lucifer?” (Miller 1259). Because of Hale’s authority, Abigail becomes defensive and puts the blame on Tituba.
Although his actions are forgivable, Hale has a hard time forgiving himself as seen by when he says, “There is blood on my head! Can you not see the blood on my head!” (4.66). This metaphor is used to communicate that he holds himself to be responsible for all of the deaths that have taken place during the witch trials and struggles to forgive himself. As a result of this guilt, it leads him to make one last attempt to remedy the damage he had caused, ultimately earning him sympathy, respect, and
The Crucible by Arthur Miller has many lessons to learn from. One of The major lesson I thought that is important is honesty. The accusations throughout the story were built on lies from those trying to protect their own name, and putting the town into confusion. Nobody in Salem, Massachusetts felt like they could trust anymore, after all of the false allegations made. If Three characters in the story would have been honest from the beginning, the town would not have been in such confusion.
He said, "I dare not take a life without there be a proof no immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it" (Miller 188). He did not want anyone to hang for a crime they did not commit, and he did not want any guilty conscience of it afterward. He started to realize that people are accusing others for their own gain, and when no one would listen, Hale quit the court. In Act 4, Hale tries to save people's lives by convincing them to confess. He doubts his own Puritan faith and pursues the falsely accused on his own.
As Bob Marley once said, “The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.” Integrity is the quality of being honest and upholding one’s morals and principles. Living in a fast-paced and ever-changing society, human beings have come into contact with adversity and hardship all throughout history. Those who act with integrity during tough times have a major influence on those around them, and taking a stand and upholding ones’ beliefs and morals at great self sacrifice can inspire and encourage others to do the same. Arthur Miller’s 1953 play, The Crucible is a prime example of upholding integrity, and the characters within the play face difficult choices between doing
Knowing all of this, Hale becomes desperate to have Elizabeth save her husband and even wishes for him to sin in order to continue living as a role model for the people of Salem. Hale recognizes the significance of each accused on a personal level and he cannot bear to see them suffer for a crime they did not
condemned for their attempt, mostly due to the section in Revelations in the Bible that states that there are witches, and that all witches must not live. The accused that do not admit are hung since they are basically going against the word of God that there are no witches. The fact that innocent people are dying for reasons the bible tries to prove reasonable when it is clearly not gives Hale a good enough reason to quit the court. He wants no part of a court that kills innocent people unlike Reverend Parris, who is more worried about his own reputation instead of innocent people’s necks breaking by the noose. He does not want to work with judges that cannot see that people are admitting to something they didn’t do just to save their own
The witches are on the hunt for the innocent souls of Salem with Hale stating, “The Devil is alive in Salem, and we dare not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points” (Miller 1251). Hale is determined to use God’s mighty hand against the “evil witches”. This shows that Hale is faithful to Abigail’s accusations against the common people of Salem. At first, Reverend Hale is eager to prosecute, but as more innocent people are condemned, his compliance turns into distaste. His dissatisfaction eventually turns into rage when Hale shouts, “I denounce these proceedings!”
At the same time he is doing his duty of making her confess. Nevertheless, Reverend Hale knows that John and Elizabeth are innocent, and that Abigail Williams and the girls are guilty of witchcraft.” You are goodwife Proctor”(2. 266-267). He could have done something more than just trying to convince Judge Danforth that they are innocent.
You got accused for doing supernatural activities. The court deems you as guilty for performing witchcraft. The judge says that the consequence for disrespecting God is a hanging. Utter shock and confusion is etched on your face as the ruling of the court is unfair and inhumane. The court gives you two choices: confess your participation in witchcraft or die behind the noose in front of the whole village.
In the Crucible by Aurther Miller there were many themes shown in the text. One of the most common themes presented in the book is Betrayal. Betrayal happens a lot through out life. Betrayal is when you go against someone who you were for at first. People often deal with Betrayal through out everyday life.