Final answer:
Withholding Patrick's conversation about leaving Mary builds suspense and creates an effect of open interpretation, allowing readers to become more personally engaged with the story and its characters.
Step-by-step explanation:
When an author chooses not to reveal a conversation between characters, like Patrick's discussion about leaving Mary, it can create different effects. By withholding such a dialogue, the author engages the reader's curiosity and builds suspense. This narrative decision encourages readers to fill in the blanks with their own imagination, leading to an effect of open interpretation. It compels the audience to become more involved in the story, creating a personalized connection with the events that unfold. Instead of spelling everything out, the author relies on the readers' inferential thinking and creates a more immersive experience.
The absence of explicit conversation can also highlight the importance of other elements, such as character development, setting, and thematic depth. This narrative technique can deepen the readers' understanding of the characters' internal conflicts and increase the emotional impact of the story. By not revealing Patrick's conversation about leaving Mary, the author may also be signaling that the story's focus is beyond just the plot - it could be exploring larger themes, such as betrayal, fear, or change.