I think that in some ways Reverend Hale is responsible for the accusations made against upstanding women and men in the community. When he questions Betty Paris and Abigail about what had happened in the woods he gives them hints about the `correct’ answers, making it easy for them to agree and `confess’ to avoid their rightful punishment for dancing in the woods. If Reverend Hale hadn’t been there Betty may have told the truth about what the girls were doing in the woods and avoided the whole situation. Miller writes: “Did you feel any strangeness…a sudden cold wind perhaps?” The only reason Betty pretended she was in a trance is that she was afraid and when she saw a chance to escape punishment; she took it without thinking about the consequences. When Betty says she saw people with the devil the stage directions read “calling out hysterically and with great relief”- this could mean to Reverend Hale that she is relieved to be “set free from the devil” however in reality she is relieved to have found a way out from punishment.
Later in the play Hale begins to suspect that there aren’t any witches in Salem when Abigail accuses Goody Proctor. Proctor tells him about Abigail and the other girls making it all up. The stage directions for Hale say “It is his own suspicion but he resists it” Then, when Rebecca Nurse is arrested he begins to doubt the court, however he doesn’t admit this because he himself signed the death warrants and he doesn’t want it on his conscience that innocent people have died. He says later on in the play “I dare not take a life without there be proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it” This means that he wouldn’t have signed the death warrants if there was any chance they were innocent, however Reverend Hale did sign the death warrants despite there being no proof, and this is why he was worried. He says to Francis Nurse “the court will send her home I know it”. He has confidence that the court will know that Rebecca Nurse is innocent- however the court condemns her therefore Reverend Hale no longer believes that there are witches in Salem. Furthermore I think that Mr Proctor stuns Hale by saying “Pontius Pilate! God will not let you wash your hands of this!” after Elizabeth Proctor has been accused. In the Bible it says that the Roman Governor refused to deal with Jesus and let the people decide what to do with him. Mr Proctor is saying that Hale is refusing to do what he knows is right for fear of losing his good reputation and being blamed for the hangings- that Hale should stop the people from deciding the fate of each other and as Reverend Hale is the initiator, it is his fault, he has the power and authority to do what’s right.
Consequently, Reverend Hale stands up for Mr Proctor and Mary Warren when they go to overthrow the court. Danforth has tried to make Elizabeth Proctor admit that Mr Proctor had an affair, to prove that Abigail was lying. Reverend Hale comments: “I may shut my conscience to it no more- private vengeance is working through this testimony!” This comment shows that Hale has finally realised and is willing to admit, that people in Salem are using the excuse of witchcraft to put forward their disagreements about property and wealth. Mr Proctor was right, however Danforth, the judge doesn’t agree. After Mary Warren accuses Mr Proctor of associating with the devil, Reverend Hale can’t take it anymore: “I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court!” He believes Rebecca Nurse and Elizabeth Proctor are godly women; he refuses to believe they could be practising witchcraft. It is a huge thing for Reverend Hale to say these things because he knows he will no longer be trusted and respected by those in higher authority. Also because he is a Christian, and they teach that murder is wrong, Reverend Hale has been committing murder by signing 72 death warrants of people he now believes were innocent. He says “There is blood on my head!”
Reverend Hale begins to visit the people in jail awaiting execution, urging them to confess so they won’t be hanged. Before the trials Hale was in a position of authority so, when he suspects the girls of lying he doesn’t speak out against the court. When he loses that position, it doesn’t make a difference to him whether he undermines Danforth and Judge Hathorne. He says to them “It is a lie! They are innocent!” whereas before he only managed to say “Excellency…” before he was cut off. Danforth then brushes past Reverend Hale without a glance whereas before he would have at least politely acknowledged him. This doesn’t faze Hale: he says to Elizabeth Proctor “Let you not mistake your duty as I mistook mine”. Reverend Hale thought that he was supposed to condemn ‘witches’ and teach people about God however he came to realise that witches didn’t exist so took it upon himself to prevent people from suffering ill fate. He now believes he is doing the right thing in “the eyes of God”.
In conclusion events in the play cause Reverend Hale’s views to change. At first he is looked upon as a wise man; believing that the devil is ‘at work` in Salem. Then, as upstanding members of the community and people he has determined could never ’enlist` with the devil are accused he begins to have doubts. People are being accused because of grievances between families in the village. Hale begins to notice many of them hold grudges such as Goody Putnam- her babies all died in childbirth. When people begin to deny the charges set against them Reverend Hale signs death warrants because he truly believes the devil is at work. Then, Mr Proctor speaks to Reverend Hale, saying that the chief witness Abigail Williams told him it was ‘naught to do with witchcraft`. His doubts are further aroused when Rebecca Nurse is accused. At the very beginning of Reverend Hale’s entrance, he speaks of Rebecca Nurse: “you look such a good soul should… I have heard of your great charities…” His doubts are further strengthened when Elizabeth Proctor is accused, mainly because Abigail is the accuser. It is then proved that Mr Putnam is accusing people to get land (Giles Corey proves this). Reverend Hale believes both Mr Corey and Proctor. In court Elizabeth Proctor tries to protect her husband honour by lying, but this turns back on her- Danforth and Hathorne then refused to believe Abigail was lying. Reverend Hale now knows for certain that “the girls are false”. He denounces the court so that his conscience is clear. He loses both his authority and respect from those around him and many begin to doubt his judgement. In jail, Elizabeth Procter ‘seems to doubt it` when she is told he has no connection with the court. Hale tries to force people into confessing, not because he thinks they are guilty, he is striving hard to save lives. I think that Reverend Hale can be blamed for the initial witchcraft accusations however, as his views change, so does the author’s portrayal of him. At the end he is portrayed as a good man, doing his utmost to achieve justice. I think that Reverend Hale thinks it is important to be in a position of authority but realises he could to so much more to help without it, and believes this at the end of the play.
