Act 2, Scene 2
Mary Warren enters. John questions her as to why she has been to Salem, when he told her not to go. Mary feels bad but says she is an official of the court and has to go to help determine who are witches and who are not. She tells Elizabeth and John that thirty-nine women have now been arrested and Goody Osburn will hang. Apparently, Goody Osburn cast a spell on Mary Warren and when questioned about it by Judge Hathorne, Goody Osburn said that she was only reciting her commandments. However, she did not know even a single commandment when asked to recite one of them. Mary sobs and also tells them that Goody Good, who is a much older woman, is pregnant. Proctor forbids Mary to go to the court again, but she insists, since she is an official.
He goes to whip her, and she screams that she saved Elizabeth's life today. Everyone falls silent, and Elizabeth asks who accused her. Mary cannot tell. Mary demands that John treats her with respect and she exits the stage.
Elizabeth claims that Abby wants her dead, and that is why Abby gave her name in court. She thinks Abby wants to take her place as the wife of John Proctor. Elizabeth pleads with John to go and see Abby and deny any promise that he may have made to her, so Abby will know that she has no chance of becoming John's wife. John says reluctantly that he will go and speak with Abby, but he is angry that his wife will not drop this mistake that he made by having an affair with Abby. "'I'll plead no more! I see now your spirit twists around the single error of my life, and I will never tear it free!'" Act 2, Scene 2, pg. 59
Topic Tracking: Involvement 5
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