Abigail rises, staring as though inspired, and cries out.
abigail: i want to open myself! they turn to her, startled. she is enraptured, as though in a pearly light. i want the light of god, i want the sweet love of jesus! i danced for the devil; i saw him; i wrote in his book; i go back to jesus; i kiss his hand. i saw sarah good with the devil! i saw goody osburn with the devil! i saw bridget bishop with the devil!
as she is speaking, betty is rising from the bed, a fever in her eyes, and picks up the chant – the chant is echoed in the distant music of the dance in the forest – there is wind in the trees.
betty, staring too: i saw george jacobs with the devil! i saw goody howe with the devil!
parris: she speaks! he rushes to embrace betty. she speaks!
how does this interaction develop the later events of the play?
by inciting further hysteria
by involving more characters
by inciting joy in the characters
by involving the minister of the town