From The Lord To The Devis Hands :: essays research papers

I came to do the stir ups live on is the ironic and sad truth that Reverend John embracerealizes in Arthur Millers dramatic play, The Crucible. One can see that compressssomebodyality changes enormously throughout the play. These changes are illustrated byHales many statements in the play. The statements in the beginning of the play readHales firm beliefs and toward the end of the play his disgust with the core of thetrials. Hale is a very intriguing person with many pillow slip traits. They must be, theyare weighted with authority. (p. 36) This shows that he is sure of his actions and himself. Another amour that he is sure of is witchcraft. This is shown when he states, The gravel isprecise the marks of his heading are as definite as stone. (p.38) and, Are you gatheringsouls for the Devil?(p. 44). One of Hales character flaws is that he judges byappearances. You look as such a good soul should. (p. 37) and, A claim so weightycannot be argued by a farmer. (p. 99) He claims to be the right-hand man of the Lord, Have no fear immediately we shall find him out if he has come among us, and I mean to compresshim utterly if he has shown his face. When in reality, his actions and beliefs end withtragic results. Hale believes so strongly in his religion that he is willing to use unjustprocedures to extract the information he wants. He does this when questioning Titubaand John watch. When the Devil comes to you, does he come with another person?Perhaps another person in the village? (p. 45) and God put you in his hands to overhaulcleanse this village. (p. 46) Hale uses these persuading techniques and the authority ofthe church to find and punish the enemies of the church.In the second act, the audience can actually make a distinction between the morallyweak Reverend Parris and Reverend Hale. When Hale goes to the Proctors house andhears about the accusations, he states, if Rebecca Nurse be tainted, and so nothings left tostop the whole green humanness from burning. (p. 80) Yet, Hale is so religious that he hasdifficulty denying the charges. He in time states, until an hour before the Devil fell, Godthought him beautiful in heaven. (p. 68) Hale has a mental conflict here His personalfeelings herald him that a person such as Rebecca couldnt be a witch but his training hastaught him that Rebecca could be possessed by the Devil.