- 1
When Mr. Hale says that women “are used to worrying over trifles," how do Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale react?
As detailed in a stage direction, they move closer together. This indicates that they are seeking something from each other: perhaps protection from the judgement of the men, perhaps sympathy from someone in the same situation. This is the first indication of one of the major themes of the play: that the shared hardships of women give them a kind of unity and understanding, right under the noses of the men who oppress them.
- 2
Discuss Mrs. Hale’s line, “Men’s hands aren’t always as clean as they might be.”
In the context of the scene, Mrs. Hale is...
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