Friday, February 19, 2016

What does this quote said by Hale mean? "The devil is precise; the marks of his presence are definite as stone."

Hale says this to Parris when Parris asks him to inspect his daughter, Betty, for signs of witchcraft. Parris says that Betty's hatred of hearing the Lord's name is surely a sign of witchcraft, but Hale is more careful and deliberate in his examination of whether witchcraft is really afflicting the people of Salem. Hale is an expert in witchcraft, and he believes in the Devil's marks; he believes that if Betty is really being...

Hale says this to Parris when Parris asks him to inspect his daughter, Betty, for signs of witchcraft. Parris says that Betty's hatred of hearing the Lord's name is surely a sign of witchcraft, but Hale is more careful and deliberate in his examination of whether witchcraft is really afflicting the people of Salem. Hale is an expert in witchcraft, and he believes in the Devil's marks; he believes that if Betty is really being afflicted by witchcraft, he will find marks of it on her, as the Devil is a careful worker who always leaves a distinct mark. He tells Parris that Parris must believe his word, even if he (Hale) finds no mark of the Devil on Betty. Hale is not just manipulating the rumors about witchcraft for his own ends; instead, he truly believes in the existence of the Devil and thinks the Devil shows his work on humans. 

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