Arthur Miller's, The Crucible, was written during the 1950's at the height of the Red Scare, and the play describes the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. The Crucible explores the dangers of theocracy and hysteria, and it shows what people will do to protect their reputation. One of the more important characters is someone who comes from out of Salem, which is Reverend Hale of Beverly. Furthermore he goes from a believer to a non-believer, and a fanatic to a non-fanatic of religion. The development of Reverend Hale shows that hysteria can easily cloud one's judgment and lead to intolerance.

In the beginning of the play Reverend Hale has strong religious faith and he strongly beliefs in witchcraft, but in the end intolerance fills his mind and he beliefs life is more precious than any other principle he can have and that the witchcraft trials are a fraud. Throughout...