An Individual's Achievement of Self-Knowledge An important theme is an individual's achievement of self-knowledge as a result of undergoing an ordeal. As Rev. Hale sits through the proceedings of the court in the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller, his views change drastically. When Rev. Hale first arrives in Salem, he is very objective about the whole situation of witchery. He questions Tituba and Abigail about all the events that occurred in the forest such as the girls' dancing and the frog in the kettle. He firmly believes that witchery was involved in causing the unresponsive condition of Betty Parris. He coaxes a confession from Tituba who names others sup