Question

in glaspell’s the inheritors, which quotation best supports the terminal theme that women often feel a desire to control their own fate?
excerpt from the inheritors by susan glaspell
act iv
madeline is sitting at the table, in her hand a torn, wrinkled piece of brown paper, with writing almost too fine to read.
her father, ira morton, appears outside, walking past the window, left. he carries a grain sack, partly filled. he seems hardly aware of
madeline.
madeline: do you remember fred jordan, father?
ira: (not wanting to take his mind from the corn) no. i don’t remember him.
madeline: he’s in prison now.
ira: well i can’t help that (after taking out another ear) this is the best corn i ever had. (he says it gloatingly to himself)
madeline: he got this letter out to me—written on this scrap of paper....he’s in what they call ‘the hold,’ father—a punishment cell. (with difficulty reading it) it’s a half foot at one end and three feet at the other and six feet long. he’d
quotation options (from madeline):

1. i do like good times. so does fred jordan, like good times.
2. i’m an american. and for that reason i think i have something to say about america
3. he got this letter out to me —written on this scrap of paper. ... he’s in what they call the hold, father —a punishment cell.
4. i do know what it means, but it means not being a coward.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each quotation to see which shows a woman's desire to control her own fate:

• The first quotation (about liking good times) is about approval of others, not self - determination.
• The second quotation (about the father in a punishment cell) is descriptive, not about self - control.
• The third quotation (about not being a coward) shows Madeline’s assertion of her own values and agency, indicating a desire to control her actions and fate (not being a coward means taking control of how she is perceived/acts).
• The fourth quotation (about being American) is about identity, not self - determination.

We analyze each quotation. The quote "I do know what it means, but it means not being a coward" shows Madeline's assertion of her values and agency, reflecting a desire to control her own fate. Other quotes are about approval, description, or identity, not self - determination.

Answer:

The quotation "MADELINE: I do know what it means, but it means not being a coward." (the third Madeline quote in the given options)