Strega Bambina Terapia~Febbraio 2

Reverend Parris has decided to visit a Salem therapist to see what can be done with Abigail to alleviate her newly found idea of turning Salem upside down and accusing dozens of people of witchcraft.  Parris fills out the following form to help the therapist know some things a bit better about Abigail before he makes any conclusions:
Name:  Abigail Williams
Age: 17
Parents:  Deceased
Grandparents:  Deceased
Children: None
Favorite Color:  Black
Favorite Movie:  The 1690s prequel to The Exorcist
Hobbies:  Until recently, weaving and reading poetry.  More recently, dancing and chanting in the forest.
Social Class:  Lower middle class
Social Security Number:  NA
Commandments known: 8

The following is what transpires between Parris and the therapist:


Hello Mr. Therapist.  Have you thought any about what is happening to Abigail?  Have you come up with anything to do about it?

I have thought about it much, yes.  She is going through a lot of changes.

Well then, what is wrong with my Abigail?

Well.  Her main fault is lying.  All of her actions boil down to this sin.  To cover up the reason why Abigail was fired, she said merely because she did not want to serve as a slave to the Proctors.  Abigail lied about anyone being naked in the forest.  And this entire time, she has been lying about the witchcraft dilemma.  Of anyone in this town, Abigail has done the most witchcraft.  She danced in the forest with Tituba and drank the chicken blood to try to get John Proctor back.  She lied every single time she opened her mouth about witchcraft.  The Proctors fired her.  They had no poppets.  Many of her lies have ended up with people accused or placed in jail.  Abigail doesn't stop lying.  In the courtroom, Abigail says she sees Mary Warren's spirit up in the rafters in the shape of a bird.

Why is she like this?

Abigail made a mistake of sleeping with her employer many months back.  As a youth she can not easily forget this time and wants Mr. Proctor again.  Mr. Proctor did not see anything coming about from the two sleeping together, while Abigail does.  An intense event like this could change some major factors of how Abigail reasons.  These changes might have led to only one goal in life:  to marry John Proctor.  The only thing standing in her way, in Abigail's mind, is Elizabeth Proctor.  Starting all the hysteria and adding Elizabeth Proctor's name to a list of "witches" is a convenient way to get rid of Elizabeth.  John Proctor sees this and tried to tell the truth of Abigail's fraudulent behavior, but when Elizabeth was questioned, she denied John's relationship with Abigail and the cause of her firing to protect her husband's reputation.

How have these past few months changed Abigail's character?

Abigail seems to have always gotten what she wanted, until now, when John Proctor is out of her reach.  Her character is very much the same, although she obsesses over one thing.  This obsession over John Proctor consumes much of her time and efforts.  With the court system of Salem wrapped around her little finger, Abigail now has full control.  Like so many people before and after her, the power role gets to her.  She no longer has the sole desire of marrying John.  Elizabeth has been jailed.  Abigail set this up, so John has been turned against her and Abigail is starting to see this.  She does not have much choice at this point except to continue blaming people until she has most of the town against her.  With John's realization of Abigail's intent, there is little future for them and Abigail realizes this.

What needs to be prescribed for her?

Given the fact that we live in the 1690s, little medication is available.  I believe the most reliable way to rid Abigail of her lying is to send her off to boarding school.  A tough life and education should straighten her out. At some point she should be allowed to return to Salem to mix again with the townsfolk here.  Now things are too stirred up and she is the cause of much of it.  I am thinking of leaving myself.  I don't want to be hanged and by the rate it's going, I will be hanged no later than next Thursday.

Okay.  That will be difficult to do, but I'll try.  She is in so much power now I do hope she does not convict me, her uncle, as well for witchcraft when I send her away to boarding school.  Thank you very much and good luck escaping before your name is added to her witch list.

Okay Mr. Parris and good luck trying to control your niece's impulses.

Okey doke.  Goodbye.