Question

PARRIS, to the point: Abigail, is there any other cause than you have told me, for your being discharged from Goody Proctor's service? I have heard it said, and I tell you as I heard it, that she comes so rarely to the church this year for she will not sit so close to something soiled. What signified that remark? Which statement explains the effect of this interaction? Select all that apply.

Answer 1

Parris , Abigail's uncle, wants to know if Abigail is involved in witchcraft. Abiagil has been fired from Goody Proctor 's house and Parris does not know the reasons. He suspects that something strange and bad has happened between Abigail and Goody. Goody Protocol comes to the church not very often because she will not sit by a dirty person -something soiled-. This is the  evidence Parris has.

The remark reflects Parris' suspicion about witchcraft and his reputation. He is very interested in what Goody Proctor thinks about his niece, Abigail.  He is not interested, apparently, in the comment: "....something soiled..".