The book provides an alternative Christian theory for what actually happened in Salem in 1692, with Hale theorizing that demons impersonated the accused and appeared in their forms to the afflicted.

He began preaching in Bass-river-side, later called Beverly, about 1664, and was ordained as the first minister of the parish church there on September 20, 1667, when the congregation formally separated from Salem.

[8] Hale is depicted as a young minister who has devoted most of his life to the study of witchcraft and other demonic arts in the hope of being able to destroy them in the name of God.

After seeing the horrors of the witch trials and watching the loss of both civil and human rights, Hale has a conversion of heart and speaks out against them, telling Judge Danforth that they are morally wrong.

In the 1996 film version of the play, he was portrayed by Rob Campbell, as a much younger man than would have been historically accurate, the real Hale being fifty-six at the time of the trials.

However, Arthur Miller's play is itself not entirely historically accurate, particularly in pertaining to ages of the characters; Abigail Williams would have been closer to 12 than 17,[10] for instance, John Proctor would have been near 60.