Compare and Contrast the Two Ministers- Parris and Hale. Consider the Changes in Each as the Whole Business takes its Course

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Compare and Contrast the Two Ministers- Parris and Hale. Consider the Changes in Each as the Whole Business takes its Course

Firstly, to clarify, the two ministers in the play are Reverend Samuel Parris and Reverend John Hale. Parris is the local Reverend in Salem, where the play is set. Hale is a Reverend in a nearby town of Beverly and is considered to be an expert on witchcraft because he had studied the topic extensively and has a degree in it. His degree was from Harvard, a top university within the U.S. Therefore he is the authoritative figure in the opening scenes.

The opening scene gives us an excellent indication of the type of person Parris is. He is bent over the bedside of his daughter, Betty, and at first seems to be a caring father, worried that his daughter has fallen ill. However, we soon realise that this is not the case and three aspects of his personality surface from his speech towards Abigail, his niece. It becomes clear that he is a paranoid man, power hungry and more worried about his reputation throughout the community rather than his daughter's well-being. By far the best quote to