Hale's statements show that he realized the error of his ways. He decides to “no longer close [his] conscience” (223) and leaves the court. Hale can no longer suppress his beliefs about the court and, like Ponce Palter, absolves himself of the court. Next, Hale has a habit of showing the immense amount of guilt that rests on his shoulder. Hale travels through Salem's prisons and, knowing that "there is blood on [his] head" (234), "advises Christians to believe themselves" (234), although he also denies his reputation of reverend in doing so. He cares so much about the accused that he believes it is a just punishment to be considered a “murderer” (234), even if it further damages his reputation. Finally, as a guilt-ridden self-proclaimed murderer, Hale "weeps in frantic prayer" (240) for any mercy or redemption God can grant him as he watches Proctor being led away to hang. Hale realizes that his activism against the unjust came too late in the hysteria to prevail and therefore seeks to