Question

trifles: the rise of modern feminism on the stage
trifles
by susan glaspell
part 2
mrs. hale (who is standing by the table): well, i dont 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) its 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 it 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 spose tis. (unbuttoning her coat.) better loosen up your things, mrs. peters. you wont 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.)
based on part two of trifles, the symbolism of the dead bird implies that mr. wright

• was jealous because his wife devoted all of her attention to the bird.
• had issues with feeling isolated that led to him feeling like a caged bird.
• was a cruel man who disliked animals, children, and women.
• had an oppressive demeanor that killed the bird and his wife’s spirit.

Explanation:

In "Trifles", the dead bird symbolizes Mrs. Wright's suppressed spirit. Mr. Wright's oppressive behavior (controlling, isolating) is shown through his actions (like "locking her up" as Mrs. Hale mentions). Killing the bird, a source of Mrs. Wright's joy, represents killing her spirit. The other options: jealousy over the bird is unfounded; his isolation issues don't fit the bird's symbolism; disliking animals/children/women isn't directly tied to the bird's meaning as oppression of his wife is. So the correct interpretation is about his oppressive demeanor killing the bird (and her spirit).

Answer:

had an oppressive demeanor that killed the bird and his wife’s spirit.