9.1: Trifles: The Rise of Modern Feminism on the Stage, Part 1
Question 15 • MO-English Language Arts 11 B-CR
Read the excerpt from part one of Trifles.HALE. So I knocked again, and I thought I heard somebody say, “Come in.” I wasn’t sure, I’m not sure yet, but I opened the door—this door (indicating the door by which the two women are still standing), and there in that rocker—(pointing to it) sat Mrs. Wright. What can you infer about Hale based on both the dialogue and stage directions in this excerpt?
Answer
A
He is easily upset and becomes wildly animated as a means of expressing his upset.
B
He is prone to wild gestures and exaggerated descriptions of things that have occurred.
C
He is desirous of making it seem as though Mrs. Wright is guilty of killing her husband.
D
He is eager to relay the details of the incident with as much accuracy as possible.
Explanation
Hale pauses to clarify that he is “not sure yet” whether he heard Mrs. Wright say “Come in,” and the stage directions show him indicating the door and pointing to the rocker as he describes what happened. These details suggest he is trying to recount the scene carefully and accurately. The excerpt does not show him becoming wildly upset or trying to make Mrs. Wright seem guilty.
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