Question

"You are burnt beyond recognition," he added, looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage. She held up her hands, strong, shapely hands, and surveyed them critically, drawing up her fawn sleeves above the wrists. Looking at them reminded her of her rings, which she had given to her husband before leaving for the beach. She silently reached out to him, and he, understanding, took the rings from his vest pocket and dropped them into her open palm. How does the excerpt reflect its social and historical context? It illustrates “true womanhood” in which women effortlessly fulfill their domestic duties. It illustrates “true womanhood” in which a  woman defers to her husband’s judgment. It illustrates the “new woman” seeking sensual experiences and freedom from restrictions. It illustrates the “new woman” seeking possession of personal property apart from her husband.

Answer 1

Yes the answer is C.

Answer 2

I believe the correct answer is C. It illustrates the “new woman” seeking sensual experiences and freedom from restrictions.

Even though we are given some hints at Edna's personal property, I think this is not the main point of the excerpt, nor the entire novel. The central motif of this excerpt is Edna's experience of her own body, or more precisely, her hands - the most active body parts, which are "strong and shapely". The sight of those capable hands reminds her of the rings - symbol of marital confinement of a woman, in the social but also sexual sense.