As Elizabeth's name has come up in court, Reverend Hale feels duty-bound to investigate further. So he visits the Proctors to try and establish whether they really are involved in witchcraft. The episode illustrates Hale's commitment to the rule of law. Unlike Judge Danforth, Hale genuinely wants to get to the truth of the matter, and thinks that by sitting down with the Proctors and asking them about their religious beliefs, he'll be able to get a much better idea of what kind of people they are.
During the interview, Hale asks the Proctors to recite the Ten Commandments. Elizabeth aces the test, but John stumbles. He can recite all but one of the Commandments; tellingly, the one he forgets is "Thou shalt not commit adultery." But despite John's embarrassing lapse, it's clear to Hale that the Proctors are good Christian folk. He wants them to make sure they go to church more often and do everything they can to lead the lives of good, God-fearing Puritans. Although Hale is starting to realize that the witch-trials are based on nothing but lies, he still naively believes that outward displays of piety will somehow be enough to protect the Proctors for the spiteful vengeance of Abigail Williams. He couldn't be more wrong if he tried.
Sunday, November 10, 2019
What are some of the ways in which John Hale questions proctor and his wife about their religious faith?
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