Hale also acts on his conscience. Although he is called to Salem to look for witches, he really requires evidence of witchcraft, not just the words of the girls. In Act I scene II he goes to the Proctor's house not because the court sent him but "of my own, without the court's authority, " to speak with Elizabeth because she has been mentioned in the court. He continues:
I am a stranger here, as you know. And in my ignorance I find it hard to draw a clear opinion of them that come accused before the court. And so this afternoon, and now tonight, I go from house to house... "
Here Hale shows his concern that he really know the people who are accused and he shows his conscience in desiring that knowledge. Later, coming to the conlcusion that the court is only interested in hanging witches rather than in finding the truth, Hale denounces the trial and leaves coming back only to try and save the lives of the accused.
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