A minister in the nearby Massachusetts town of Beverly, and an expert in identifying witchcraft. An intelligent man, Hale sees himself as a scientist and philosopher, a kind of physician of the soul. At the beginning of the play he's something of an innocent, taking for granted that the world is black and white and that he, with his expertise, can tell the difference between the two. By the end of the play his outlook has changed considerably. Unlike the other priests, his insistence on uncovering facts makes it impossible for him to overlook the evidence indicating that those condemned of witchcraft in Salem were innocent.
Reverend Hale Quotes in The Crucible
The The Crucible quotes below are all either spoken by Reverend Hale or refer to Reverend Hale. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 2
Quotes
I have seen too many frightful proofs in court—the Devil is alive in Salem, and we dare not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points!
Related Characters:
Reverend Hale (speaker)
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 4
Quotes
It is mistaken law that leads you to sacrifice. Life, woman, life is God's most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it . . ..it may well be God damns a liar less than he that throws his life away for pride.
Related Characters:
Reverend Hale (speaker), Elizabeth Proctor
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire The Crucible LitChart as a printable PDF.
Reverend Hale Character Timeline in The Crucible
The timeline below shows where the character Reverend Hale appears in The Crucible. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 1
...says it can't possibly be spiritual causes, though just to make sure he's asked Reverend Hale from the nearby town of Beverly to come investigate. As Susanna leaves, both Abigail and...
(full context)
...being attacked by the devil. Putnam asks if it's true that Parris sent for Reverend Hale from Beverly. Parris says yes, but just as a precaution. Putnam is certain there's been...
(full context)
A disagreement arises about whether Parris should have called Reverend Hale to come search Salem for spirits without first holding a meeting. The dispute erupts into...
(full context)
Reverend Hale enters carrying a stack of religious books about witchcraft. He seems eager to flex his...
(full context)
Putnam, Mrs. Putnam, and Parris tell Hale of the recent events. Hale and Rebecca are shocked Mrs. Putnam would send her child...
(full context)
As Hale takes out a book about witchcraft and prepares to examine Betty further, Rebecca departs, clearly...
(full context)
Betty doesn't respond to Hale's question, so he turns to Abigail. She repeats that they were only dancing. When Parris...
(full context)
Troubled, Hale asks Abigail if she conjured the devil. Abigail says Tituba did. As Mrs. Putnam goes...
(full context)
Hale asks Tituba when she made a "compact with the devil." Tituba says she never has....
(full context)
...seen with the devil. Betty wakes and begins to chant names too. Parris, Putnam, and Hale call for the town marshal as the girls scream out the names of witch after...
(full context)
Act 2
Suddenly Hale appears at the door, startling both Elizabeth and Proctor. Hale says that without the court's...
(full context)
Hale asks some questions about the "Christian character" of the house. He asks why the Proctors...
(full context)
Just as Hale is about to leave, Elizabeth persuades Proctor to speak up about Abigail. The news shakes...
(full context)
Though troubled, Hale defends the court and says it will certainly send Rebecca home. Yet Hale has no...
(full context)
Hale assures Proctor that the court will recognize Elizabeth's innocence, and promises that he will testify...
(full context)
Act 3
...land. Corey is dragged from the courtroom (and onto the stage), followed by Francis Nurse, Hale, Parris, Hathorne, and Danforth. Hathorne and Danforth are furious that Corey would disrupt and try...
(full context)
...frauds. Proctor and Mary Warren come forward. Parris tells Danforth that Proctor causes "mischief," while Hale begs Danforth to hear the evidence.
(full context)
...earlier ripped up the court's warrant, and Parris adds that Proctor seldom comes to church. Hale argues that such evidence hardly justifies considering Proctor a threat to the court.
(full context)
Parris declares this an attack on the court. Hale questions why all attempts at defense are called attacks on the court.
(full context)
...the name, for fear the man will be treated like the signers of the petition. Hale observes that there's a great fear of the court in Salem. But Danforth says this...
(full context)
Proctor brings Mary forward. Hale says this argument is so important Danforth should let a lawyer present it to him....
(full context)
Hale says he believes Proctor, and that Elizabeth was just trying to protect his reputation, but...
(full context)
Act 4
...They wonder where Parris is and are troubled to learn from Herrick that he's with Hale, visiting those condemned to hang that morning, including Proctor and Rebecca Nurse.
(full context)
Parris enters. To Danforth and Hathorne's questions about Hale, he answers that Hale has returned to try to convince those convicted of witchcraft to...
(full context)
Hale enters, demanding pardons for the convicted. Danforth says 12 others have already been hanged for...
(full context)
...now well along in her pregnancy. As Marshal Herrick goes to get Elizabeth, Danforth asks Hale why he returned to Salem. Hale replies bitterly that he came to convince Christians to...
(full context)
Elizabeth enters. Hale tells her he will consider himself Proctor's murderer if Proctor is hanged. Hale begs Elizabeth...
(full context)
...hasn't. Danforth then asks if he's seen anyone with the devil. Proctor again says no. Hale and Parris convince Danforth to accept Proctor's confession anyway. Under pressure from Danforth, Proctor signs...
(full context)
...the confession to pieces. Danforth orders Herrick to take Proctor to the gallows. Parris and Hale beg Elizabeth to speak to Proctor. But she says Proctor has his goodness back now,...
(full context)
