Incomplete question. The full question read;
<u>Which parts of the excerpt indicate the initial conflict that drives the story?</u>
DUNHAM: The beverages are getting low, madam -- what with entertaining so much
ELAINE: [In dismay.) But, mother, if you only have twelve people, Father can't sit at the head of the table.
MRS. PRINGLE: But he has to sit at the head. It looks too undignified when the man of the house is pushed to the side -
ELAINE: There's no other way. There must be a woman at each end
MRS. PRINGLE: [Distraught. How absurd! I always forget. Of course, twelve is an impossible number — [She goes around the table looking at the place cards.) I don't want to put any of these women at the head, there's Mrs.
Darby - such a cat -- I wouldn't give her the honor and Mrs. — The telephone rings.] Answer it, Dunham.
Answer:
- <u>ELAINE: [In dismay.) But, mother, if you only have twelve people, Father can't sit at the head of the table</u>
- <u>MRS. PRINGLE: But he has to sit at the head. It looks too undignified when the man of the house is pushed to the side.</u>
Explanation:
Note, the term conflict as used here refers to something or a subject under discussion that causes serious disagreement between two or more parties.
Hence, we notice that the initial source of disagreement between the characters (Elaine, Dunham, and Mrs. Pringle) began from the above statements.
