Question

county attorney. i guess before were through she may have something more serious than preserves to worry about.
hale. well, women are used to worrying over trifles. (the two women move a little closer together.)
county attorney (with the gallantry of a young politician). and yet, for all their worries, what would we do without the ladies? (the women do not unbend. he goes to the sink, takes a dipperful of water from the pail and, pouring it into a basin, washes his hands. starts to wipe them on the roller-towel, turns it for a cleaner place.) dirty towels! (kicks his foot against the pans under the sink.) not much of a housekeeper, would you say, ladies?
which theme of early feminist drama is reflected in the excerpt?
○ men are not capable of completing certain tasks.
○ women are expected to fulfill specific domestic obligations.
○ both men and women are responsible for domestic chores.
○ most women are content with their role in society.

Explanation:

1. Analyze Option 1: The excerpt doesn't focus on men's inability to complete tasks. The County Attorney's actions (washing hands, criticizing towels) don't imply men can't do tasks, so this is incorrect.
2. Analyze Option 2: Hale says women "worry over trifles" (implying domestic concerns), and the County Attorney criticizes the housekeeping. This shows societal expectations that women fulfill domestic duties (like being good housekeepers), matching early feminist drama's theme of challenging such gendered domestic expectations.
3. Analyze Option 3: The excerpt emphasizes women's expected domestic role, not shared responsibility. The men's comments focus on women's duties, so this is wrong.
4. Analyze Option 4: The women "do not unbend" (show discomfort), suggesting they aren't content with their role, so this is incorrect.

Answer:

B. Women are expected to fulfill specific domestic obligations.