Eiserman 1

Caden Eiserman

3/15/23

Mr. Smith

Jr Lit.

End of Act 1 Through Characterizations in Reverand Hale

In the play “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller, he utilizes characterizations of Reverand

Hale to develop the plot of how the town of Salem has been dealing with the signs of lucifer in

comparison to what issues and hysteric behavior that's been caused since he came to Salem. With

hales arrival, the town of Salem sees him as a savior of their witch problems and greets him with

open arms and warm greetings “delighted: Mr hale! Oh! Its good to see you again!” (Pg 34).

When Hale is introduced to the plot, Miller wants to show the relief and excitement that hale has

brought the town and what he might be able to do for their problems. The town of Salem sees

him as a savior who will believe and do whatever he thinks is right. Miller then moves through

act 1 to show what Hale has caused and how much he has influenced the behavior of the town in

such a short time. By the end of the Act, the group of girls who were suspicioned to be witches

was now accruing fellow women in the town, “Betty: I saw goody Bibber with the Devil!

Abigail: I saw goody Booth with the Devil!” (Pg 46). The Salem witch trials were not only a way

to accuse their fellow neighbors of witchcraft but a way to seek vengeance against the people

who might have wronged them. The similarities between McCarthyism and the Accusations of

witchcraft are not the same in the reasoning but because of little to no evidence to back it up, this

caused a unbalance of power that soon led to the destruction of people around them.
 Eiserman 2

Works Cited:

Aguirre-Sacasa, Roberto, et al. The Crucible. Archie Comic Publications, Inc., 2016.