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1. Why does the mother become so angry when her son asks for a knife to cut some grapes?

The mother becomes angry with her son after he has asked for a knife to cut grapes because her husband and other son were killed by someone using a knife and she distrusts all weapons because of their deaths.

2. What prompts the son to ask his mother, "Would you like me to kill them"?

The son asks this question because his mother has been speaking at great length on the tragedy of the loss of her son and husband and how unfair it is that the killers are just in prison and not dead themselves.

3. Why does the mother say she wishes her son was a girl?

The mother says she wishes her son was a girl so that he wouldn't be able to leave her home and could stay embroidering with her all day.

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