The dialogue above shows us that Mr. Henderson is careless because he skipped the information about Mr. Wright’s psychological condition that is told by
Mr. Hale. He assumes that this topic is not important to be discussed in doing investigation. In fact, the psychological condition of Mr. Wright is closely related to
the murder case since this aspect is the root of the murder. The other evidence can be seen through the dialogue between Mrs. Hale and Mr. Henderson below.
MRS. HALE. No, I don’t mean anything. But, I don’t think a place’d be any
cheerfuller for John Wright’s being in it. MR. HENDERSON.
I’d like to talk about that a little later. I want to get the lay of things upstairs now. He goes to the left, where three steps lead to
a stair door. McQuade, 1999: 983 When Mrs. Hale talks about the atmosphere of the house before the murder
happened, once again Mr. Henderson doesn’t regard this information as something important for the investigation. He assumes that the atmosphere of the house is
something that is unimportant too. In patriarchal system, women are considered to be unproductive and less
important since they are deemed to have no analytic ability. It causes men to regard women’s opinion as unimportant things too. Just like what Mr. Henderson did
towards Mr. Hale, his attitude shows his superiority over Mrs. Hale by ignoring her opinion.
c. Cynical Mr. Peters and Mr. Henderson
Mr. Peters is a middle life Sheriff who joined to look for the motive of the murder of Mr. Wright. He is cynical tow
ards women’s things by regarding them as unimportant things. When Mr. Henderson asked him if there is something important
in the kitchen area, he cynically answers that there is nothing important in the kitchen. The evidence can be seen through the dialogue below.
MR. HENDERSON. Looking around . I guess we’ll go upstairs first—and
then out to the barn and around here. To the Sheriff. You are convinced that there was nothing important here
—nothing that would point to any motive?
MR. PETERS. Nothing here but kitchen things. McQuade, 1999: 982. Kitchen is regarded as a ‘women area’, the place where women should be and
the women should work at. By regarding kitchen things as unimportant things, Mr. Peters is being cynical towards women’s things. He has belief that kitchen things are
unimportant things and would not point to any motive of the murder case. Just like in the previous discussion, patriarchal system considers women to be
unimportant. In this case, Mr. Peters ’ attitude shows his superiority over women by
regarding kitchen things as unimportant things.
d. Apathetic Mr. Wright
Mr. Wright never appears in the play, but his characteristic can be seen from the dialogue of the other characters. He was an apathetic person by not giving any
concern toward his social life. He doesn’t like to socialize with others and showing
no interest in social things because he assumes that folks talked too much. All he asked was peace and quiet. The evidence of this characteristic can be seen through
Mr. Hale’s words below. MR. HALE. Harry and I had started to town with a load of potatoes. We came
along the road from my place; and as I got here, I said, “I’m going to see if I can’t get John Wright to go in with me on a party telephone.” I spoke
to Wright about it once before, and he put me off, saying folks talked to PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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
