Ann putnam says that her daughter, ruth, has been acting strange this year. describe ruth's behaviors. ann putnam says this is evidence of dark forces pulling on her child, whose age we're not told but who is probably around 10 years old. what is a different, more likely explanation for ruth's behaviors?

As it is evident by the end of the story Ruth as well as Betty are feigning their illnesses and no dark forces are really at work in the town. As the respected elder of the community Rebeca Nurse points out in the story this is nothing more than the childhood fancy, a game they play which is fairly common for children. They will stop as soon as they get bored. 

It is clearly seen at the conclusion part of the story, that Ruth and Betty are acting their sicknesses and no dark forces are at work during that time in the town. As the beloved elder of the Community, Rebecca Nurse tells that in the story, that it is nothing more than the childhood story, where in a game they place which is most common in children. As soon as they get bored, they will now stop acting.