much anyway, and all he asked was peace and quiet —I guess you know
about how much he talked himself… McQuade, 1999: 980 The way Mr. Wright responses
Mr. Hale’s invitation to join the party telephone shows his lack of interest towards others and society. He does not want to
be included in the social activity and asked for peace and quiet. However, quiet here does not mean peaceful, but empty, lack of conversation.
In patriarchal society, men are considered to be independent. It shows their superiority in society by being an independent person. It also shows their power and
ability to live their life without being dependent on others.
e. Arrogant Mr. Hale
Mr. Hale is another male character in the play. He is the neighbor of Mr. and Mrs. Wright and the first person who
discovers the murder happened in Mr. Wright’s house. He is an arrogant person based on the dialogue found in the story. The
evidence of his characteristic can be seen from the quoted dialogue below. MRS. PETERS. To the other woman. Oh, her fruit; it did freeze. To the
Lawyer. She worried about that when it turned so cold. She said the fire’d go out and her jars would break.
MR. PETERS. Well, can you beat the women Held for murder an d worryin’
about her preserves. MR. HENDERSON.
I guess before we’re through she may has something more serious than preserves to worry about.
MR. HALE. Well, women are used to worrying over trifles. McQuade, 1999: 982
The dialogue above shows that Mr. Hale insults women over their women
concerns. He assumes that what women worry is all about trifles, small things that are unimportant. It is clear that his words are offensive toward women. It represents the
situation of patriarchal society where the men consider anything related to women are unimportant. His statement which is disrespectful and arrogant toward women shows
his superiority over women.
f. Intolerant Mr. Henderson
The other characteristic of Mr. Henderson is intolerant. It can be seen from the way he take
s the responsibility in doing the investigation. He doesn’t involve the female characters into the investigation process.
He doesn’t even want to accept any opinion from the female characters. The other evidence of his intolerant can be seen
from the dialogue below. MR. HENDERSON. Dirty towels Kicks his foot against the pans under the
sink. Not much of a housekeeper, would you say, ladies? MR. HALE. Stiffly.
There’s a great deal of work to be done on a farm. MR. HENDERSON.
To be sure. And yet… With a little bow to her. …I know there are some Dickson county farmhouses which do not have such
roller towels. He gives it a pull to expose its full length again. MRS. HALE.
Those towels get dirty awfully quick. Men’s hands aren’t always as clean as they might be.
MR. HENDERSON. Ah, loyal to your sex, I see.. McQuade, 1999: 982 The conversation above shows that Mr. Henderson is intolerant towards Mrs.
Hale opinion. He rejects Mrs. Hale’s idea about the dirty towels and believes that his own argument is the
right one. He even directly said that Mrs. Hale’s idea is just based on her loyalty of sex. This clearly shows his intolerance towards women, in this
case, Mrs. Hale. In patriarchal society, women do not have a chance to prove that they are able
to do what men do, therefore they become the object of the society and considered to PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
