This stage of the play marks a very disturbing shift from
what has been "play" or "sport" with the girls dancing naked with Tituba in the woods to
something that casts its dark shadow over all of Salem. Note how Tituba is pressurised
into "confessing" and also how she is pressurised into denouncing others who are
witches. Parris himself says to her: "You must confess yourself or I will take you out
and whip you to your death, Tituba!", and then Putnam follows up directly by saying:
"This woman must be hanged! She must be taken and hanged!" Clearly Tituba has a rather
unfair choice to make, which will then go on to face so many others in Salem - she
either confesses and denounces others or dies.
Note what
Hale says to Tituba when she confesses and begins to say she saw
others:
You
are God's instrument put in our hands to discover the Devil's agents among us. You are
selected, Tituba, you are chosen to help us cleanse our village. So speak utterly,
Tituba, turn your back on him and face God - face God, Tituba, and God will protect
you.
It is clear that turning
to God also means there is the expectation that you will turn others in. As Abigail sees
what is happening she herself "confesses" and turns others in
too:
I want to
open myself! 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 Bridged Bishop with the
Devil!
Hearing this, the
other girls begin to join in, denouncing other people in Salem, accusing them of being
seen with the Devil, and thus the witch trials begin.
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