The Crucible Group

Question:

kolay
kolay
Student
High School - 12th Grade

Why does Hale denounce the proceedings? What should have been the effect of his denunciation? Why is it not?

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Posted by kolay on Tuesday May 19, 2009 at 4:39 AM and tagged with act 3, characters, denounce, hale.

Answers:

  1. writergal06
    writergal06 Teacher

    eNotes Editor

    Hale denouncing the proceedings because of the testimony and evidence against the girls, specifically against Abigail by Proctor, showing that the girls are faking and that witchcraft has nothing to do with anything. As more and more upstanding members of both the town and the church are arrested, Hale becomes more and more skeptical of the validity of the girl's actions. Because of his authority as a clergymen and expert on witchcraft, his declaration that there were no signs of witchcraft should have been respected, and the trials put to an end. However, because of the pride of the leadership in Salem, and because they would not admit that they had committed any wrongdoing in accusing others, the courts did not relent. This resulted in the deaths of dozens of innocent people.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/crucible/

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    Posted by writergal06 on Tuesday May 19, 2009 at 5:23 AM