The Crucible

In the play "The Crucible" written by Arthur Miller, the author displays how easily people can make judgments based on their personal beliefs rather than rational and logical reasoning. Miller elucidates throughout the play that truth has no meaning when men believe only what they want to believe. A situation is created where there are factors capable of forcing characters into making assessments based on what they think is right while disregarding the truth. Three characters in Miller’s play who abandon the truth because they choose to believe only what they want to believe are Reverend Parris, Reverend John Hale and Judge Danforth.

In the opening scene, Reverend Parris is introduced as a very apprehensive character. His daughter lays unconscious in front of him and there is a rumor that she is victim of witchcraft. Parris is infuriated and he begins questioning Abigail, as he saw her and several other girls dancing in the woods. When Abigail denies that they were practicing witchcraft, he does not believe her. He asserts that she and the other girls were involved in witchcraft and accepts this as the truth, even if he is not certain that he is right. However, when Tituba begins pointing fingers and calling other people witches, every authorial figure present in the scene including Reverend Parris accept this as the truth. She realizes that she must lie in order to save herself and she does so by conveying the attention on other townspeople, such as Sarah Good and Goody Osburn. For this reason innocent citizens are then prosecuted for witchcraft because of the ignorant beliefs of certain people, who preferred to believe a child instead of looking for evidence. Parris and Hale are both upset by the content of Tituba’s words yet they will choose to believe her. The reckless accusations proclaimed by the young girls are accepted as truth, in a town controlled by anxiety and concern.

John Hale is the force behind the witch trials, as people will follow in his beliefs since he is seen as a knowledgeable man. He is the intelligent expert on witchcraft and he is called to the scene by Parris to investigate on the cause of his daughter’s unconscious state. He proceeds to question the girls with the undoubted assumption of the presence of witchcraft. Hale also believes Tituba, Abigail and the other girls when they accuse others of practicing witchcraft. Later in the play, his thoughts begin to change and he becomes convinced that John Proctor and Mary Warren are telling the truth, and not Abigail. He again makes his judgments based on his beliefs. At first Reverend Hale is sure about his belief that there are witches and feels that he is carrying out the desires of God himself. Yet as the play progresses Hale sees all these innocent people being sentenced and executed. He contemplates whether to listen to Danforth or listen