Reverend Abner Hale
Encyclopedia
Reverend Abner Hale is a fictional character from James A. Michener
's novel Hawaii
, and also from the George Roy Hill
-directed film
based on the book. He was portrayed by Max von Sydow
in the movie.
Divinity School. He volunteers to carry the word of God to the heathen natives of Hawaii
. Hale needs a wife before he can offer himself to said service, so he timorously proposes to young Jerusha Bromley (Julie Andrews
). Jerusha is actually in love with adventurous sea captain Rafer Hoxworth (the late Richard Harris
), whom she has neither seen nor heard from in over three years. To Abner's astonishment, Jerusha accepts his proposal and marries him. The Hales experience a stormy and arduous voyage to Hawaii, during which their tiny two-masted vessel is battered by mountainous waves off Cape Horn
.
Abner and Jerusha finally reach the islands. They receive a royal welcome from the Alii Nui (Queen of Hawaii) Malama. Jerusha easily makes friends with the natives, and tries to understand their customs. However, the sanctimonious Abner refuses to make any concessions; he rigidly imposes his will upon the pleasure-and-peace-loving Hawaiians. He orders them to destroy their pagan idols, cover their naked bodies, and abolish their ancient practice of incestuous marriage. The Alii Nui instructs her people to obey, although she herself refuses to deny the deep love she feels for her brother Kelolo.
One day, another ship arrives in the harbor. Jerusha suddenly finds herself face-to-face with its captain—Hoxworth, who is disappointed to learn that she is now married to Abner. (Hoxworth's attraction to her remains mutual, however.) Later, members of Hoxworth's crew set fire to Abner's church, in protest against Abner's having forbidden the native girls to mingle with the seamen. Led by Abner and Jerusha, the islanders extinguish the fire and drive off the sailors. Peace is momentarily restored, but gradually more and more white men come to the islands. They commercialize and corrupt the natives' simple way of life, while leaving behind disease and unhappiness.
One day, the Alii Nui sends for Abner. Realizing that her death is near, she sends Kelolo into exile. The Alii Nui receives a Christian baptism, and is subsequently buried in sacred ground after she passes away. After her funeral, Kelolo robs his sister's grave and disposes of her body in Hawaii's traditional pagan manner. A severe measles
epidemic sweeps the islands, taking the lives of hundreds of natives...including Keoki, a native clergyman who studied with Abner at Yale. When Abner asks Keoki's widow (who also happens to be the dead man's sister) to pray with him, she brands him a man of hate; she also accuses the Christian God of being cruel and unforgiving.
As time passes, Abner and Jerusha have two sons and two daughters. She keeps urging Abner that he should seek forgiveness from God, in view of the sorrow he has brought to Hawaii.
In 1834, Hoxworth's ship returns to Hawaii. Onboard is a prefabricated New England
house, which is to be a present for the Hales from Mr. Bromley (Jerusha's father) and Hoxworth. Abner and Jerusha are coaxed out of the village by Dr. John Whipple and his wife for a week. After they have left Captain Hoxworth and his crew build the house.
Jerusha only lives a few more years in her New England house before she dies from working too hard in the climate. When Hoxworth learns that Jerusha has died, he comes to the island to visit her grave. There he finds the crippled Rev. Hale, and in a fit of rage, strikes Abner down to the ground, kicking him in the head. The islanders hear the commotion and come to Rev. Hale's aid, but head kick almost kills him. Rev. Hale is never the same after this attack.
Seven more years pass. When Rev. Thorn, who brought Hale into the missionary, comes to Lahaina, he finds that Rev. Hale has not followed the direction of the Church mission in Hawaii. Hale has not led or allowed any native Hawaiians to become ministers, and he has repressed the village of Lahaina from growing properly in the church. Rev. Thorn relieves Hale from his lead duties in the Church, leaving Hale to work in the seaman's chapel.
When Rev. Thorn leaves for Honolulu, then to Boston, Hale sends all his children to New England
for their education. Abner remains in Hawaii, still hopeful of somehow bringing God's word to the islands.
In 1849 Hale's oldest son, Micah Hale, travels across the United States, from Boston to San Francisco, where he meets Captain Rafer Hoxworth, his wife, Noelani, and their daughter, Malama. Rafer initially wants nothing to do with Abner Hale's son, but soon sees Jerusha in him, and finally accepts him. Micah and Malama soon fall in love, and Captain Hoxworth marries them aboard the ship en route to Honolulu.
When Micah and Malama arrive a couple days later in Lahaina, they find Abner Hale almost mad from his failings. Micah has to stop his father to get his attention for him to notice his own son. Rev. Hale is pleased to see Micah until he is introduced to Malama. Abner goes into a fit of rage, calling his son and his Hawaiian wife an abomination and refusing to accept them.
Micah resigns as a minister in the church, leaves Lahaina and goes into business with Captain Hoxworth.
James A. Michener
James Albert Michener was an American author of more than 40 titles, the majority of which were sweeping sagas, covering the lives of many generations in particular geographic locales and incorporating historical facts into the stories...
's novel Hawaii
Hawaii (novel)
Hawaii is a novel by James Michener published in 1959. Written in episodic format like many of Michener's works, the book narrates the story of the original Hawaiians who sailed to the islands from Bora Bora, the early American missionaries and merchants, and the Chinese and Japanese immigrants who...
, and also from the George Roy Hill
George Roy Hill
George Roy Hill was an American film director. He is most noted for directing such films as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting, which both starred the acting duo Paul Newman and Robert Redford...
-directed film
Hawaii (film)
Hawaii is a 1966 American film directed by George Roy Hill and based on the novel of the same name by James A. Michener. It tells the story of an 1820s Yale University divinity student who, along with his new bride , becomes a Calvinist missionary in the Hawaiian Islands...
based on the book. He was portrayed by Max von Sydow
Max von Sydow
Max von Sydow is a Swedish actor. He has also held French citizenship since 2002. He has starred in many films and had supporting roles in dozens more...
in the movie.
Biography
In 1820, Hale - tall, gangly and bumbling - graduates from the YaleYALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
Divinity School. He volunteers to carry the word of God to the heathen natives of Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. Hale needs a wife before he can offer himself to said service, so he timorously proposes to young Jerusha Bromley (Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews
Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honors...
). Jerusha is actually in love with adventurous sea captain Rafer Hoxworth (the late Richard Harris
Richard Harris
Richard St John Harris was an Irish actor, singer-songwriter, theatrical producer, film director and writer....
), whom she has neither seen nor heard from in over three years. To Abner's astonishment, Jerusha accepts his proposal and marries him. The Hales experience a stormy and arduous voyage to Hawaii, during which their tiny two-masted vessel is battered by mountainous waves off Cape Horn
Cape Horn
Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island...
.
Abner and Jerusha finally reach the islands. They receive a royal welcome from the Alii Nui (Queen of Hawaii) Malama. Jerusha easily makes friends with the natives, and tries to understand their customs. However, the sanctimonious Abner refuses to make any concessions; he rigidly imposes his will upon the pleasure-and-peace-loving Hawaiians. He orders them to destroy their pagan idols, cover their naked bodies, and abolish their ancient practice of incestuous marriage. The Alii Nui instructs her people to obey, although she herself refuses to deny the deep love she feels for her brother Kelolo.
One day, another ship arrives in the harbor. Jerusha suddenly finds herself face-to-face with its captain—Hoxworth, who is disappointed to learn that she is now married to Abner. (Hoxworth's attraction to her remains mutual, however.) Later, members of Hoxworth's crew set fire to Abner's church, in protest against Abner's having forbidden the native girls to mingle with the seamen. Led by Abner and Jerusha, the islanders extinguish the fire and drive off the sailors. Peace is momentarily restored, but gradually more and more white men come to the islands. They commercialize and corrupt the natives' simple way of life, while leaving behind disease and unhappiness.
One day, the Alii Nui sends for Abner. Realizing that her death is near, she sends Kelolo into exile. The Alii Nui receives a Christian baptism, and is subsequently buried in sacred ground after she passes away. After her funeral, Kelolo robs his sister's grave and disposes of her body in Hawaii's traditional pagan manner. A severe measles
Measles
Measles, also known as rubeola or morbilli, is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses...
epidemic sweeps the islands, taking the lives of hundreds of natives...including Keoki, a native clergyman who studied with Abner at Yale. When Abner asks Keoki's widow (who also happens to be the dead man's sister) to pray with him, she brands him a man of hate; she also accuses the Christian God of being cruel and unforgiving.
As time passes, Abner and Jerusha have two sons and two daughters. She keeps urging Abner that he should seek forgiveness from God, in view of the sorrow he has brought to Hawaii.
In 1834, Hoxworth's ship returns to Hawaii. Onboard is a prefabricated New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
house, which is to be a present for the Hales from Mr. Bromley (Jerusha's father) and Hoxworth. Abner and Jerusha are coaxed out of the village by Dr. John Whipple and his wife for a week. After they have left Captain Hoxworth and his crew build the house.
Jerusha only lives a few more years in her New England house before she dies from working too hard in the climate. When Hoxworth learns that Jerusha has died, he comes to the island to visit her grave. There he finds the crippled Rev. Hale, and in a fit of rage, strikes Abner down to the ground, kicking him in the head. The islanders hear the commotion and come to Rev. Hale's aid, but head kick almost kills him. Rev. Hale is never the same after this attack.
Seven more years pass. When Rev. Thorn, who brought Hale into the missionary, comes to Lahaina, he finds that Rev. Hale has not followed the direction of the Church mission in Hawaii. Hale has not led or allowed any native Hawaiians to become ministers, and he has repressed the village of Lahaina from growing properly in the church. Rev. Thorn relieves Hale from his lead duties in the Church, leaving Hale to work in the seaman's chapel.
When Rev. Thorn leaves for Honolulu, then to Boston, Hale sends all his children to New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
for their education. Abner remains in Hawaii, still hopeful of somehow bringing God's word to the islands.
In 1849 Hale's oldest son, Micah Hale, travels across the United States, from Boston to San Francisco, where he meets Captain Rafer Hoxworth, his wife, Noelani, and their daughter, Malama. Rafer initially wants nothing to do with Abner Hale's son, but soon sees Jerusha in him, and finally accepts him. Micah and Malama soon fall in love, and Captain Hoxworth marries them aboard the ship en route to Honolulu.
When Micah and Malama arrive a couple days later in Lahaina, they find Abner Hale almost mad from his failings. Micah has to stop his father to get his attention for him to notice his own son. Rev. Hale is pleased to see Micah until he is introduced to Malama. Abner goes into a fit of rage, calling his son and his Hawaiian wife an abomination and refusing to accept them.
Micah resigns as a minister in the church, leaves Lahaina and goes into business with Captain Hoxworth.