How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #1
STAGE DIRECTIONS: At the rear the outer door opens and the SHERIFF comes in followed by the COUNTY ATTORNEY and HALE. [...] They are followed by the two women (1)
So much for ladies first. Why do you think the men are the first to enter the house? It could be that they're trying to be chivalrous. The house is a murder scene after all, so it could be seen as a dangerous (or at least a super creepy) place. It could also be that the men enter first because they're the head honchos of the investigation. No matter how you shake it, the men entering first immediately shows the audience that the fellas are in charge around here. Or at least they think they are.
Quote #2
HALE: [...] I spoke to Wright about it once before and he put me off, saying folks talked too much anyway, and all he asked was peace and quiet—I guess you know about how much he talked himself; but I thought maybe if I went to the house and talked about it before his wife, though I said to Harry that I didn't know as what his wife wanted made much difference to John—(10)
We learn a couple things about the kind of man John Wright was in this chunk of text. 1) He was the strong, silent type—and not in a dreamy way. 2) He totally dominated his wife and didn't care at all what she said about anything. Doesn't sound like a prize catch, huh? Do you think the way Mr. Wright behaved was considered a-okay from men in his time? Or did even other men think he was kind of a jerk?
Quote #3
COUNTY ATTORNEY: (looking around) I guess we'll go upstairs first—and then out to the barn and around there. (to the SHERIFF) You're convinced that there was nothing important here—nothing that would point to any motive.
SHERIFF: Nothing here but kitchen things. (25-26)
Notice how the County Attorney wants to take the investigation to only male-dominated places.
He wants to check out the barn, which is probably filled with manly tools. He also wants to inspect the bedroom. Sure, this makes sense since it's the crime scene and all, but symbolically it's also a male-dominated place. The kitchen, being a feminine place, obviously could never hold anything of importance for the investigation—even though the suspect being investigated is a woman who likely spends most of her time there. These guys are pretty clueless, huh? How realistic do think this portrayal of men is?