Final answer:
Ann Putnam is protective of her daughter Ruth due to the loss of her other children and fears further harm due to Ruth's strange illness, which leads her to support the witch trials.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ann Putnam's protective and worried nature towards her daughter, Ruth, in the play is motivated by her previous experiences with losing her other children. Ann had endured the tragedy of losing seven of her eight children before they reached adulthood. This deep personal loss makes her especially protective of Ruth, who is her only surviving child. Ann's fear is exacerbated when Ruth falls ill and exhibits strange behaviors, which in the context of the Puritan society of the time, were often associated with the supernatural or witchcraft. Ann is desperate to find a reason for Ruth's condition and protect her at all costs, often resorting to supporting the witch trials in the hopes that by finding a scapegoat, her daughter might be cured or spared further harm.