Conversation: The initial exchange between Rev. Parris and Abigail regarding the effect of Abigail’s actions on Parris’s reputation
Goal: Rev. Parris’ outcome is to get Abigail to tell the truth about what happened in the forest. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PARRIS: Abigail, please just tell me why Betty has remained in the same position since midnight last night. ABIGAIL: I’m telling you Uncle, all we were doing was dancing in the forest. PARRIS: Look, either you can expose the truth of what happened, or you can let the truth of what happened expose you (Chiasmus). Which one would you rather pick? ABIGAIL: Clearly I would choose to tell you the truth, and I am. It was sport! Truly. PARRIS: If you do not come clean, my enemies will eventually find everything out, as I have many enemies. ABIGAIL: There’s no possible way your enemies could find out anything more than what I am telling you, because there is nothing more to discuss. PARRIS: Abigail! Surely you are lying. I saw Tituba waving her arms over the fire. She was screeching and yelling in-interpretable words! ABIGAIL: You could not have seen anything more than that. Betty and I were dancing to Tituba’s Barbados’ songs. PARRIS: You might believe that this was the only thing I saw, but it was not (But wait, there’s more…). ABIGAIL: You saw more? PARRIS: Indeed. I saw a dress lying on the grass. ABIGAIL: But Uncle, no girl had their dress off last night. PARRIS: Yes, one of you had your dresses off last night, because I saw someone running naked through the forest. ABIGAIL: Naked? PARRIS: Yes, Abigail. I know for a fact I was not going crazy. I know what I saw. I beg of you, just tell me what truly happened. Whatever you say could help the doctor, and possibly cure Betty of whatever ungodly mishap has happened among her. ABIGAIL: Uncle I-… All we were doing was dancing in the forest. PARRIS: Do not go back to the beginning with me! If you do not discuss with me what happened last night, evidence will put itself together, you will be exposed of what you did, and you will be in more trouble. If you converse with me right now, we can help the doctor diagnose what has happened, and Betty can go back to normal (The lesser of two evils). Is that not what you desire? ABIGAIL: Alright, I’ll tell.
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