Table of Contents
Who is called Pontius Pilate in The Crucible?
This is an allusion to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who presided over the trial of Jesus but literally washed his hands in public to wash away any responsibility for Jesus’s death.
When Proctor says Pontius Pilate God will not let you wash your hands of this he means that the men *?
The washing of his hands symbolized that it was not his fault, the people chose Christ’s fate. So Proctor tells Hale he cannot wash his hands off for the arrest of Elizabeth the way Pontius Pilate did after Christ’s death.
Why did Pontius Pilate wash his hands?
In St. Matthew’s gospel, Pontius Pilate ‘washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person’. This was to show the crowd he did not want Jesus dead, but ordered his death because that is what the people wanted. He was washing his hands of the responsibility.
How is proctors allusion to Pontius Pilate insult Hale?
Explain John Proctor’s allusion as he tells Hale, “Pontius Pilate! God will not let you wash your hands of this!” Proctor equates John Hale to Pontius Pilate, the infamous traitor, and wants Hale to feel guilty for not standing up and stopping Elizabeth’s arrest when he could have vouched for her.
What is Reverend Hale known for?
Reverend John Hale was a minister from Beverly best known for his role in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Born in Charlestown in 1636 to local blacksmith Robert Hale, as a child Hale witnessed Massachusetts’ first execution of a convicted witch, in 1648, with the hanging of Margaret Jones of Charlestown.
Why does Proctor call Hale a coward in Act 2?
Why does Proctor call Hale a coward after Elizabeth is arrested? He calls him a coward because he is arresting his wife. John Proctor told Hale. He said that if the accuser is holy then they are a sinner and the holy one is always the person who did it.
How does Proctor insult the court?
When Cheever orders that John Proctor’s wife Elizabeth be brought before the court to answer to charges of witchcraft, Proctor is enraged. He appeals to Reverend Hale, who tries to defend what the court is doing, and Proctor responds by saying, “Pontius Pilate! This is where Proctor calls him Pontius Pilate.
What did John Proctor say about Pontius Pilate?
When Cheever orders that John Proctor’s wife Elizabeth be brought before the court to answer to charges of witchcraft, Proctor is enraged. He appeals to Reverend Hale, who tries to defend what the court is doing, and Proctor responds by saying, “Pontius Pilate!
What did Hale tell Proctor in the Crucible?
Hale begins to tell Proctor that if she is innocent, the court will discover it. However, Proctor interrupts him and asks why she is guilty until proven innocent while Abigail and Parris are innocent and not even subjected to proving that alleged innocence:
Why did Pilate wash his hands in the Crucible?
In the Gospel of Matthew, Pilate famously “washes his hands” indicating that Jesus’ fate is no longer his responsibility. In The Crucible, Herrick and the authorities of the court come to collect Elizabeth on charges: Abigail claims Elizabeth used witchcraft to stab Abigail using a poppet (a practice more popularly known in Voodoo).
Who was in charge when Christ was brought before the courts?
In the Bible, when Christ is brought before the courts, Pontius Pilate is in charge. Pontius questions Christ and finds nothing wrong; he feels that Christ is innocent, and has no reason to be arrested. So, he brings Christ before the people, and there was a custom on the Passover where one criminal could be allowed free.