Final answer:
Fractious mean irritable and quarrelsome, reflecting a person's tendency to be easily provoked to annoyance or disputes, which is evident from the behaviors of characters in the provided text excerpts.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the context, the word fractious means irritable and quarrelsome. The excerpts provided from various texts show characters displaying signs of restlessness, irritability, and readiness to argue or cause trouble. For instance, a woman rushes at someone in fury, a man's natural combativeness is awakened amid a drinking session, and another woman is noted for her uncertain temper and her disposition to be discontented.
These behaviors illustrate different aspects of being fractious, which includes not only the tendency to be irritable and cranky but also to be contentious and easily provoked to anger or disputes.
The word fractious is often used to describe someone who is readily inclined to make trouble or cause annoyance by being difficult and resistant to control. This could be through verbal disputes, a disruptive demeanor, or an overall contentious personality. In most character profiles drawn from the texts, the fractious nature seems to impact their relationships and social interactions, thereby adding to the narrative tension within the stories.