Read the excerpt from part one of "Trifles."

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HALE. I didn't hear or see anything; I knocked at the door, and still it was all quiet inside. I knew they must be up, it was past eight o'clock. So I knocked again, and I thought I heard somebody say, "Come in." I wasn't sure, I'm not sure yet, but I opened the door—this door (indicating the door by which the two women are still standing), and there in that rocker—(pointing to it) sat Mrs. Wright. (They all look at the rocker.)

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How does the underlined stage direction affect the mood of the scene?

A. The emphasis on the rocker creates a tense mood as everyone is reminded of where Mrs. Wright calmly sat as she discussed her dead husband.

B. The emphasis on the rocker creates a hostile mood as the characters envision Mrs. Wright and the lack of emotion she showed as she sat rocking.

C. The emphasis on the rocker creates a calm mood as the reader is reminded of something that is typically used to pacify or soothe individuals.

D. The emphasis on the rocker creates a warm mood as the reader becomes focused on something that is often associated with fond memories.

The underlined stage direction in the excerpt from Trifles affects the mood of the scene by focusing on the rocker where Mrs. Wright sat. This emphasis on the rocker is significant; it creates a tense mood by reminding all present of Mrs. Wright's eerie calmness as she discussed her dead husband. Unlike objects that bring warmth or calmness, the rocker in this context contributes to the play's atmosphere of unease. Mrs. Wright's demeanor and the setting, where a crime has occurred, underpin the tension. The other characters' attention to the rocker also serves to illuminate important themes in the play, such as the expected roles of women and the isolation Mrs. Wright felt. It is a poignant symbol that indicates something disturbingly tranquil about Mrs. Wright's state in the wake of a violent event.