The Crucible Post Two

In this section of the book, reverend Hale has already arrived.  Hale deems himself intelligent, and is both respected and feared in the village because of his study of witchcraft.  I'd like to talk about Hale for a second.  Is  it really intelligent for someone to believe in something of which he has no proof?  Hale speaks of checking behind the ears for dark goo, and has many books pertaining to witchcraft.  He had convicted many people before these, and, as such, most definitely enjoyed the power that came with being able to make whole theocracies tremor before him and fold in on each other.

The chapter goes on to prove that Hale and the community charge two local outcasts, Sarah Good, and Goody Osborne.  The fact that their names share a common word is not unimportant to the story!  In fact, these poor women, one of whom midwifed three of one accusers unborn children, were very likely innocent and new of no witch craft.  The funny thing to me is that two things happened before they, and everyone else in this story were convicted of witchcraft.  The first being that someone called them a local outcast, and then criticized them of doing something strange in the community.  Then, someone accused of being a witch would repent to save their own hides and accuse one of the town's outcasts of standing with the devil!

This story is a perfect example of what happens when fear takes over altruism and conscience.