Question

trifles
by susan glaspell
part 2
mrs. hale (who is standing by the table): well, i don’t see any signs of anger around here. (she puts her hand on the dish towel which lies on the table, stands looking down at the table, one half of which is clean, the other half messy.) it’s wiped here. (makes a move as if to finish work, then turns and looks at loaf of bread outside the breadbox. drops towel. in that voice of coming back to familiar things.) wonder how they are finding things upstairs? i hope she had a little more there. you know, it seems kind of sneaking. locking her up in town and then coming out here and trying to get her own house to turn against her!
mrs. peters: but mrs. hale, the law is the law.
mrs. hale: i s’pose it is. (unbuttoning her coat.) better loosen up your things, mrs. peters. you won’t feel them when you go out. (mrs. peters takes off her fur tippet, goes to hang it on hook at the back of room, stands looking at the under part of the small corner table.)

in part two of trifles, what symbolic impact is made when susan glaspell includes quilting as a part of mrs. wright’s lifestyle?

it reinforces the idea that mrs. wright fulfilled many of the roles considered common for women during this time.

it characterizes mrs. wright as someone who truly enjoyed the domestic duties expected of women during this time.

it casts doubt on the idea that mrs. wright could have killed her husband by making her appear innocent and content.

it heightens the tension by creating a scene of domestic bliss that would conflict with the murder being investigated.

Explanation:

In "Trifles", quilting is a domestic activity. The option "It heightens the tension by creating a scene of domestic bliss that would conflict with the murder being investigated" fits because the domestic, seemingly peaceful quilting (and other domestic details) contrasts with the violent murder, creating tension. The other options: reinforcing traditional women's roles or characterizing her as enjoying domestic duties don't focus on the symbolic tension with the murder; casting doubt on her innocence via quilting is not the main symbolic impact here. The contrast between domestic normalcy (quilting) and the murder investigation creates tension.

Answer:

It heightens the tension by creating a scene of domestic bliss that would conflict with the murder being investigated.