Read the excerpt from part one of Trifles . HALE: Well, my first thought was to get that rope off. I looked . . . ( Stops, his face twitches . ) . . . but Harry, he went up to him, and he said, “No, he’s dead all right, and we’d better not touch anything.” How does the use of the word “twitches” in the stage direction most affect this scene?
Answer
A
It reveals to the reader that Hale is extremely upset because he and Mr. Wright were very close.
B
It emphasizes the fact that death is a difficult subject for Mr. Hale and causes him discomfort.
C
It hints to the reader that Hale may have somehow been involved and is acting out of guilt.
D
It characterizes Hale as someone who is weak and cannot handle difficult aspects of the job.
Explanation
The stage direction says Hale’s face “twitches” as he recalls finding the dead man. This physical reaction suggests that talking about the death makes Hale uncomfortable and is difficult for him. The excerpt gives no evidence that Hale was involved or that he and Mr. Wright were close.
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