by Guy de Maupassant
When she had finished her work, wiped down the table, dusted the mantelpiece and put the plates on the high dresser close to the wooden
clock with its loud tick-tock, she drew a long breath, as she felt rather oppressed, without exactly knowing why. She looked at the black clay
walls, the rafters that were blackened with smoke and from which hung spiders' webs, smoked herrings and strings of onions, and then she
sat down, rather overcome by the stale odor from the earthen floor, on which so many things had been continually spilled and which the heat
brought out. With this there was mingled the sour smell of the pans of milk which were set out to raise the cream in the adjoining dairy.
How does the author's development of the setting help a reader better understand the main character?
A. The description of the sour smell of milk helps the reader understand that the main character is irresponsible in caring for her chores.
B. The description of the wooden clock and the loud noise it makes helps the reader understand that the main character is sensitive to sounds,
C. The description of the dusted mantlepiece helps the reader understand that the main character likes things to look expensive.
D. The description of the eerie home helps the reader understand why the main character feels oppressed