Question

Read the excerpt from part two of Trifles.

MRS. HALE. It's 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.)
What is ironic about this excerpt?
The men laugh at the women, and the women find themselves feeling very embarrassed by this.
The men believe the women are incapable of discovering anything of substance when, in fact, they are the ones
who discover evidence.
O Although they are considered to be good, knowledgeable homemakers, the women are puzzled by which stitching
technique was used in the quilt.
O Although the women are in Mrs. Wright's kitchen, they are unfamiliar with many of the items that they find.

Answer 1

The men's laughter and the women's embarrassment highlight gender dynamics and the underestimation of women's abilities.

Step-by-step explanation:

Irony in the Excerpt

The irony in this excerpt lies in the contrast between the men's laughter and the women's embarrassment. The men laugh at the women's discussion about quilting, dismissing it as unimportant, while the women feel embarrassed by their own curiosity and interest. This highlights a gender dynamic where the men underestimate the women's abilities and overlook their observations, even though the women are the ones who ultimately make a significant discovery.

Learn more about Irony in gender dynamics