Well, you have asked an interesting question because when
Betty does start to scream it is highly revealing to watch how different characters
interpret her outburst. Note what we are told in the stage
directions:
The words "going up to Jesus" are
heard in the psalm, and Betty claps her ears suddenly and whines loudly.
ABIGAIL: Betty? She hurries to Betty,
who is now sitting up and screaming. Proctor goes to Betty as Abigail is trying to pull
her hands down, calling
"Betty!"
Of
course, Mrs. Putnam is eager to seize on the fact that it was the psalm - the words of
Holy Scripture - that started Betty screaming, interpreting it as another sign of
devilry and witchcraft. However, Rebecca has a completely different interpretation. With
the gentleness that "exudes" from her, she is able to calm Betty. Note what she says
about how she managed to calm her and what she thinks is the
problem:
I think she'll wake in time. Pray calm
yourselves. I have eleven children, and I am twenty-six times a grandma, and I have seen
them all through their silly seasons, and when it comes on them they will run the Devil
bowlegged keeping up with their mischief. I think she'll wake when she tired of it. A
child's spirit is like a child, you can never catch it by running after it; you must
stand still, and, for love, it will soon itself come back.
Crucially, we
have two very different interpretations here, which of course leads on to the rest of
the action in the film. People are too ready to side with Mrs. Putnam which leads to the
large numbers of people who are executed and who come to believe in witchcraft for
themselves, however, the position of Rebecca offers us an alternative approach which is
more rational, based on experience and love. Of course, Miller is really asking us which
camp we side with...
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