Tradition

Question

by George Middleton

OLLIVANT. [He eyes her tensely and controls himself with an effort.] So you are not going to stay with your mother and me?

MARY. [Affectionately.] I'll come see you as often as I can and——

OLLIVANT.—and make a hotel of your home? [MARY is silent.] Don't you see your mother is getting older and needs somebody to be here?

EMILY. [With a quiet assurance.] I have never been so well and contented.

OLLIVANT. [Tenderly.] I know better, Emily; can't I see you're getting thinner and older? [Stopping her protests.] Now, let me manage this, dear. It's a girl's place to stay at home. You know my feelings about that. Suppose anything should happen to your mother, what would I do?

MARY. So it's not mother alone you are thinking of?

OLLIVANT. [Tersely.] I'm thinking of your place at home—doing a woman's work. I'm not proud of having my daughter off earning her own living as though I couldn't support her.

EMILY. George!

MARY. I thought it was only because I was on the stage.

OLLIVANT. Well, it's not the most heavenly place, is it? A lot of narrow-minded fools here in town thought I was crazy to let you go; I knew how they felt; I grinned and bore it. I told everyone you were coming home for good. They'll think me a fool if——

MARY. [Firmly.] I never saw so clearly as I do now.

OLLIVANT. [Bluntly.] Then you're stubborn—plain stubborn—not to admit failure.

MARY. [Startled.] Failure?

OLLIVANT. I know what the newspapers said; Ben sent them to me.

MARY. Which ones?

OLLIVANT. Why, all of them, I guess.

MARY. Did he send you the good ones?

OLLIVANT. Were there any?

MARY. Oh, I see. So Ben carefully picked out only those which would please you.

OLLIVANT. [Sarcastically.] Please me?

MARY. Yes; because you and he didn't want me to succeed; because you thought failure would bring me home. But don't you think I'll let some cub reporter settle things for me. I'll never come home through failure—never.

"Tradition" by George Middleton

Question
Use the passage to answer the question.

How do the stage directions and dialogue in this passage help advance the plot?

(1 point)
Responses

They reveal that neither Mary nor her father is going to compromise.
They reveal that neither Mary nor her father is going to compromise.

They reveal that Mary’s father is willing to allow Mary to pursue her career.
They reveal that Mary’s father is willing to allow Mary to pursue her career.

They reveal that Mary is going to give in to her father’s demands.
They reveal that Mary is going to give in to her father’s demands.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

They reveal that neither Mary nor her father is going to compromise.

The stage directions and dialogue highlight the tension between Mary and her father, Ollivant, as they discuss her decision not to stay at home. Mary's firm responses and Ollivant's insistence on traditional roles illustrate their conflicting views and unwillingness to concede to each other's expectations or desires, thus advancing the plot by emphasizing this central conflict.