Question

MRS. HALE. It’s a log cabin pattern. Pretty, isn’t it? I wonder if she was goin’ to quilt or just knot it? (Footsteps have been heard coming down the stairs. The Sheriff enters, followed by Hale and the County Attorney.)

SHERIFF. They wonder if she was going to quilt or just knot it. (The men laugh, the women look abashed.)

Which theme is best reinforced by the excerpt?
The thoughts and opinions of women were not considered noteworthy.
The relationships between men and women were somewhat competitive.
The daily deeds of women were quite complex and detail oriented.
The dedication that women had for their communities was unmatched.

Answer 1

The first option. The men’s joking (“They wonder if she was going to quilt or just knot it.”) and laughter while the women look abashed shows that the men dismiss and trivialize women’s activities and opinions, reinforcing that women’s thoughts were not considered noteworthy.