However In the Crucible Reverend John Hale is considered to be, and considers himself, an expert on witchcraft. He is initially summoned to determine whether the devil is in Salem and enthusiastically participates in the court proceeding.
As Hale enters the play, he walks in with a lot of books heavy books, “books of knowledge”. He is shown to be a man who takes pride of his work and he came to Salem just to find a witch, he will not be told what to do - very much, he is the authority which the people of Salem are looking to.
When Parris mentions the books were heave Hale says, “They must be; they are weighted with authority.” (p.30)
Hale's arrival gives the whole thing a kind of official approval and an authority which it lacked till then. It also makes the situation more dangerous; Hale has found witchcraft in other places, he has an interest in finding more, and if he does, then there could be punishments and even deaths.
Hale's impression on the villagers is quite strong; most see his enthusiasm and his books and his business like manner as being evidence of his abilities. A few, like John Proctor see through this and see him as a silly man believing in superstitious nonsense. His arrival also gives some villagers a better chance of settling old scores or a grudge; they would probably have been less able to get rid of people they disliked and get their hands on the property of others if the affair had remained a local one.
Hale showed to be very understanding and helpful as he was examining Tituba. Proof to this was when Hale says, “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.” (p.37). This clearly shows that Hale wants to get some answer’s of Tituba but at the same time he wants Tituba to feel comfortable with Him and not be scared. Later Hale asked Tituba to “open yourself and let God’s holy light shine one you.” (p.37). This was the turning point for Tituba as from then on she was not scared to answer Hale and turn against the devil.
Reverend Hale's reaction to the girls' accusations is to write the names down, and to summon them for questioning. He is, initially, one of the men who believes the girls. At the end of Act I, however, he has only just come into Salem and he is ready to believe he has found some of those spirits working which he can identify in his weighty books.
As the play develops, though, Reverend Hale becomes increasingly uneasy about the way the girls are being believed. As more and more of the Salem people are imprisoned (as Abigail gets closer and closer to Elizabeth) particularly people like Rebecca Nurse, Hale starts to turn from the court and to see the girls as what they are - frauds. This is shown when Hale says to Danforth “Excellency, I have signed seventy-two death warrants; I am a minister of the Lord, and I dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightness qualm of conscience may doubt it.” (p.80). When Hale says this he means that the girls are being believed too much and there is still no real proof that all these people are working for the devil and should be killed.
Hales suspicion increases even more is by the fact that Rebecca Nurse being accused of working for the devil, even though Rebecca Nurse is a good soul and no one would believe that such person would be working for the devil, proof to this is when Proctor says, “I-have no knowledge in that line. But its hard to think so pious a women be secretly a Devil’s bitch after seventy years of such good prayer.” (p.50).
