Mr. (Joe) Summers
Quote 1
"Well, now." Mr. Summers said soberly, "guess we better get started, get this over with, so's we can go back to work. " (10)
This is a hard-working society. So hard-working, in fact, that murdering one of their members needs to take place on a timetable.
Mr. (Joe) Summers
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Tess Hutchinson
Quote 2
"Daughters draw with their husbands' families, Tessie," Mr. Summers said gently. "You know that as well as anyone else." (51)
This passage is simply more evidence that the villagers are organized as a patriarchy. Families are defined by male heads of household.