Betty's Illness

(Act 1 from the perspective of Abigail Williams)

     When I found out that my cousin Betty was sick, I was very worried, as was my father.  We had sent Suzanna Walcott to the doctor to find out what was wrong with her, but the doctor did not have any idea of what could be wrong.  My Uncle, Reverend Parris, thought that there might be some supernatural cause of her illness so he sent for Reverend John Hale of Beverly.  I told my uncle to go downstaris and tell the people gathered in the parlor of the house that there was not witchcraft involved so that they would stop creating rumors.  I also told Suzanna to not speak of unnatural things happening in town.

     My uncle started to question me about what had happened when he had found us dancing in the woods and I lied and told him that we had not been doing any witchcraft or black magic.  The other girls entered the room and I told them that they needed to not tell anyone about being in the woods.  Betty woke up and I told her that I told her father about her being in the woods, but she was afraid of me and ran towards the window saying that she was going to fly.  She also confronted me about drinking blood to kill Elizabeth Proctor and I told her to never speak of it again.  I am in love with John Proctor, and his wife Elizabeth is just in the way.

Everyone begins pointing fingers at each other

     When Hale arrived, he questioned me about what had happened in the woods and I told him that we were making soup and a frog jumped in.  After I had said this, he asked if I called the devil but I told him that Tituba did. "Abigail: I never called him! Tituba, Tituba . . ." (Pg. 40)   I also claimed that Tituba sent her spirit upon me and made me laugh in church and everyone believed me.  This started a chain of people being accused because Tituba claimed that she saw Sarah Good with the devil. "Tituba: . . . And I look- and there was Goody Good." (Pg. 44)  Then, after she said this, I confessed to dancing for the devil.  Once I realized that my father believed me, I said that I saw Sarah Good, Goody Osburn, and Bridget Bishop with the Devil.  Then, Betty rose up from the bed and said that she saw Martha Bellows, Alice Barrow, and Goody Bibber with the Devil. I also claimed that I had seen Goody Sibber, Goody Hawkins, and Goody Booth with the Devil.