Answer:
To suggest that the characters are taking time to think about their next words.
Explanation:
Although Ella has been learning more about Benny, there is no indication that they are feeling comfortable with one another. In fact, the pauses indicate that they are still trying to choose their words carefully, which could mean that they are not comfortable. In the play, Ella says “Right,” and then she is silent before asking Benny whether he thinks he could live in the woods. Benny asks Ella to clarify the question, and Ella states that he would live in the woods for “like five years.” Benny is silent before responding “five years,” and then is silent again before he asks Ella “with you?” These references to silence suggest that Ella and Benny are taking time to think about their next words before saying them: Ella to present to Benny a hypothetical scenario related to their predicament and Benny to ask Ella to clarify the scenario and if she would be included in it.
