Read the excerpt from part two…

English Questions

Read the excerpt from part two of Trifles: COUNTY ATTORNEY. “Oh, I guess they‚Äôre not very dangerous things the ladies have picked up.” (Moves a few things about, disturbing the quilt pieces that cover the box. Steps back.) “No, Mrs. Peters doesn‚Äôt need supervising. For that matter, a sheriff‚Äôs wife is married to the law. Ever think of it that way, Mrs. Peters?” Which of the following most accurately describes this excerpt? A) It is verbal irony because the County Attorney means precisely the opposite of what he is actually saying. B) It is dramatic irony because the audience knows that the County Attorney does not actually mean what he is saying. C) It is situational irony because the County Attorney has actually issued a relevant warning to Mrs. Peters without realizing it. D) It is not an example of any type of irony because the County Attorney is simply making a statement.

Answer

The statement that best describes the excerpt is: It is situational irony because the County Attorney has unwittingly given a relevant warning to Mrs. Peters. In the one-act play “Trifles,” Susan Glaspell addresses various significant societal issues faced by women. Central to the play is the theme of discrimination against women in a male-dominated society, which often leads to isolation. The dynamics between men and women, along with the mockery directed at women, are prominently featured. The play also emphasizes a woman’s desire for freedom and independent thought, which recurs throughout the narrative. “Trifles” portrays rural life in the early twentieth century, particularly the experiences of women working on farms. It provides insights into justice and judgment regarding laws created by men, which women are forced to adhere to without being included in decision-making processes. Women are expected to accept these laws and the associated consequences imposed by a biased society.

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