Post by kendall on Apr 19, 2016 14:18:41 GMT
Hi all,
Just to reiterate what I said about Reverend Hale today (should you be asked to comment on a minor character):
* He's an interesting character to pick as he changes so much throughout the play
* In Act 1 he is confident, self-assured, believes in his work: "here is all the invisible world, caught, defined and calculated". He genuinely fears the Devil's work and believes the girls: “the Devil is alive in Salem, and we dare not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points"
* In Act 2 he is beginning to feel worried. This is shown when he goes to the Proctor household and tells them that there is some suspicion surrounding Elizabeth. He is trying to help them. However, he does still think he has an important role in the community as he questions their religious beliefs - this helps to show us that he still takes his role in Salem seriously and that he believes the girls' testimony: "This is a strange time...no man may longer doubt the powers of the dark...there is too much evidence now to deny it."
* In Act 3 he is feeling frustrated and concerned by the actions of the court. When Proctor confesses to the affair with Abigail, Hale tries to plead with Danforth to listen to this new information. When they do not, Hale feels disillusioned with what the witch trials have created and leaves: "I quit this court!"
* In Act 4 Hale enters the scene a very changed man. He is left reeling by the events in Salem and seems dishevelled in both his attitude towards others and his state of mind. He seems to be worried about the role he has played in the deaths of innocent people: “There is blood on my head! Can you not see the blood on my head!!” and “Cleave to no faith when faith brings blood”.
He also tries to plead with the condemned to falsely confess. This is unusual for a minister as he should be urging people to be truthful but he identifies the trials as lies and seeks to save lives.
He tries to convince Elizabeth to help him to save Proctor and says: “I would save your husband’s life, for if he is taken I count myself his murderer”. His final pleading urges Proctor's wife to "be his helper...go to him!"
I hope all of this makes sense and sounds like what I said to you in class!
Mrs K
Just to reiterate what I said about Reverend Hale today (should you be asked to comment on a minor character):
* He's an interesting character to pick as he changes so much throughout the play
* In Act 1 he is confident, self-assured, believes in his work: "here is all the invisible world, caught, defined and calculated". He genuinely fears the Devil's work and believes the girls: “the Devil is alive in Salem, and we dare not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points"
* In Act 2 he is beginning to feel worried. This is shown when he goes to the Proctor household and tells them that there is some suspicion surrounding Elizabeth. He is trying to help them. However, he does still think he has an important role in the community as he questions their religious beliefs - this helps to show us that he still takes his role in Salem seriously and that he believes the girls' testimony: "This is a strange time...no man may longer doubt the powers of the dark...there is too much evidence now to deny it."
* In Act 3 he is feeling frustrated and concerned by the actions of the court. When Proctor confesses to the affair with Abigail, Hale tries to plead with Danforth to listen to this new information. When they do not, Hale feels disillusioned with what the witch trials have created and leaves: "I quit this court!"
* In Act 4 Hale enters the scene a very changed man. He is left reeling by the events in Salem and seems dishevelled in both his attitude towards others and his state of mind. He seems to be worried about the role he has played in the deaths of innocent people: “There is blood on my head! Can you not see the blood on my head!!” and “Cleave to no faith when faith brings blood”.
He also tries to plead with the condemned to falsely confess. This is unusual for a minister as he should be urging people to be truthful but he identifies the trials as lies and seeks to save lives.
He tries to convince Elizabeth to help him to save Proctor and says: “I would save your husband’s life, for if he is taken I count myself his murderer”. His final pleading urges Proctor's wife to "be his helper...go to him!"
I hope all of this makes sense and sounds like what I said to you in class!
Mrs K