- Belief in Witchcraft: Hale arrives in Salem with a genuine belief in the existence of witchcraft. At that time, many people shared this belief, and Hale approaches the witch trials with sincerity and eagerness to uncover the truth. Hale genuinely believes that confessing to witchcraft can cleanse a person's soul and prevent eternal damnation, even if they may believe they never intentionally practiced it.
- Hope for Peace: Hale is also motivated by a desire to restore peace and order to the community. As the witchcraft trials escalate, causing chaos and disrupting the harmony of the village, Hale sees confessions as a potential means to end the hysteria and fear. By encouraging confessions, he hoped to end the witch trials while still offering solace to those accused.
- Influence of Past Experience: Before arriving in Salem, Hale had some success resolving accusations of witchcraft in other towns. Based on these past experiences, he may genuinely believe that getting witches to confess is the most effective way to handle such situations and establish societal cohesion.
However, as he delves deeper into the proceedings, Hale becomes increasingly troubled by the lack of substantial evidence and starts questioning the authenticity of some of the testimonies made by certain individuals in the town. He finds the trials are driven by false accusations and personal grudges rather than a sincere belief in witchcraft.