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The Crucible Essay In the play The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, the character of Reverand Hale undergoes a transformation, one more remarkable than that of any other character in the play. In the first act of the play, Hale is portrayed as an eager-eyed intellectual, whose expertise on witchcraft will finally be put to use in the town of Salem. Once he recognizes the hysteria in Salem , the realization sets in that witchcraft is nothing …

…the play. By Act IV, Hale is changed into a saddened and guilt-ridden man, who will ask people to admit to false accusations of witchcraft to save their lives. He cannot bare to see a single more innocent person die before his eyes. This hysteria in Salem has truly transformed this at first seemingly strong man into a broken and dejected soul, longing to rid himself of the guilt that has been tearing him apart.