Authority In The Crucible

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Many people revere persons of authority in the highest of regards in their society; however, this is an extremely unfair and naïve judgement. Authority is filled with corrupt and deceitful actions, executed for their own personal profits. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, this concept is exemplified throughout the entire town of Salem, Massachusetts. The character development and actions of Reverend John Hale of Beverly, a major character throughout the play, display this theme as the story progresses. He is surrounded by an entire town filled with deceitful, corrupt, and manipulative citizens, but while he attempts to save them from their own sins, his fellow figures of authority abandon him. At the start of the play, Hale possesses a very …show more content…
During the trials, many more people are accused of being witches by Abigail Williams and her group of friends, so Hale decides to go out and interrogate each of the accused on his own. He starts off with Rebecca Nurse, another person of high esteem in the town of Salem. Hale admits, “God forbid such a one be charged;” however, he continues to believe Satan is able to corrupt even the purest of souls (II, 1062). This is the first indication Miller provides of Hale beginning to question the validity of the accusations. This creates some doubt within Hale’s mind which eventually starts to spread and develop into disbelief. After leaving Rebecca’s house, Hale arrives to interrogate John and Elizabeth Proctor about their Christian values and beliefs. However, before Hale is able to finish, Ezekiel Cheever and Marshal Herrick arrive to their house to arrest Elizabeth. Hale is unaware of the arrest which shows his position of authority has fallen, but he still believes “the court is just,” and if Elizabeth really were innocent, she would be set free (II, 1069). Eventually, he realizes his mistake, but it would be too late for him to stop the hysteria of the
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