Final answer:
Mrs. Peters relates and sympathizes with Mrs. Wright due to shared past experiences of profound loneliness and emotional suffering, which is underscored by the discovery of the broken birdcage and the dead canary, representing Mrs. Wright's lost freedom.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on the interactions and reflections within the text from LibreTexts™, Mrs. Peters ultimately relates and sympathizes with Mrs. Wright due to their shared past experiences. This connection becomes apparent as Mrs. Peters recalls the isolation and stillness she herself endured when her baby died while homesteading in Dakota, mirroring the loneliness Mrs. Wright felt living in a cold and lonesome home. These parallel experiences of hardship and emotional suffering lead to a deeper understanding and sympathy in Mrs. Peters for Mrs. Wright's situation, particularly when she discovers the broken birdcage and the dead canary, which symbolize Mrs. Wright's own broken life and lost freedom. Additionally, through the character of Mrs. Hales, who expresses regret for not supporting Mrs. Wright, the text critiques the broader societal failure to recognize and address the struggles of women.