Trifles Essay

CatherineA.Boateng

Prof.Dr.LucyMcNair ENG102

November20th,2017

Essay3DraftI,II&II

Worldofplayin"Trifles""Trifle"happensintheruralpartofIowaduringthewintermonthin 1900's,anerawherewomenpossessedlittlevoiceintheaffairsofmen.Theplaytookplaceinan interioroftheWright'skitchen,whichisaconfinedprivatespaceThelandscapeofarundown farmhouseownedbythevictimofanillusivestrangulation.Themoodisdark,deadnessand depressingwhereastheonlymusicisacanarysong,mysteriousandsilence.Thefiguresand arrangementsareinagenderform,themaleenterfirstthentheirwivesfollow,themenheading upstairstoinvestigatethecrimesceneandthewomenremaininthekitchen....showmorecontent... Fewwork,oractivitieswereavailabletowomenduetothelegalinstitutionofcoverture.The "HistoryofwomenintheUnitedStates"statesthat"Undercoverture,awomanhadnolegal identity"(Revolvy)whenmarriedandeverythingshedidwasunderawoman'sfatherorhusband's authorityThismeantthattheavailableoccupationsforwomenwerelimitedthustakingcareofthe children,cleaningthehouseandtakingcareofyourhusband.Theessentialcharacterintheplay TriflesbySusanGlaspellremainsunnoticedfortheentirepiece.ThismaincharacterisMrs.Wright whoseactionsaretobeunderstood,theaudienceneverseesorhearsherthroughoutthepiece,and thereforecannotdevelopanaccurateopinionoftheoutcomeoftheplay.Theactionofthestory takesplaceafterstrangulationdeathofMinnieInexaminingtheactionsofMrsWright,shecannot beverifiedwithoutcloserinspectionofMinnie'spersonalityandexperiences.Thespousalabuseor patternofemotionalabuse(husbandtowife),isolation,thetransformationofherlifeand entrapmentTraditionhasitthatinmarriagethetwoshallbecomeoneandeverythingthatbelongs tothemanwouldbeforthewomansoishisname.R.R.S.Stewartwhoisacolumnistatthe MinnesotaDailyattheUniversityofMinnesotaandtheauthorof"whoselastnameshouldhave marriedcouplechoose?"stated

...Getmorecontent...

InthegroupthatIwasinourclaimwasthattheroleofironyin"Triflesdrawsattentiontospecific actionsanddialoguesamongthecharacters,whichgroupsthewomenandmenintorespective groups,eachthinkingtheywerean"insider"andtheotherwasan"outsider".Today,manysocial interactionssuchaslikingcommentingandusingemoji'sonFacebookmayservedifferent meanings,whichoftenhintsto"inside–joking"whereonlythe"insiders"areprivilegedwiththe informationtoappreciatethejoke.TheuseofFacebooktomodeltheinteractionswithinTriflesis meanttomimic21stcommunication,highlightingironicmomentsintheplay,creatingasenseof diasporaamongstboththemenandwomengroups,ultimatelyhintingtotheoverallironicending exposingthewomenasthetrueinsiders.Mygrouphadareallygoodclaimandsupportiveevidence tobackitupthroughoutthePowerPoint.Ourstylewasverycreativeandveryhumorous.Group1 decidedtodo"MidnightinParis"theirclaimwasthat,MidnightinParis,directedbyWoodyAllen, effectivelychallengestheviewer'snotionofinsidersandoutsidersthroughtheportrayalofthemain character,GilPender,aHollywoodscreenwriterandself–proclaimed"oldsoul"strugglingwitha stragglingrelationshipandalifestyleunfitforhispersonality.Italsosuccessfullydemonstratesthat insidersandoutsiderschangethroughouttime,andinhistoricalcontextareseenasicons,butintheir respectivetime

...Getmorecontent...

TriflesResearchPaper

ShortEssay3:TriflesTheplayTrifleswrittenbySusanGlasspelldepictstheclassiccontrastofhow menandwomenthink.Thisplaywaswritteninatimewhensocietywasstillverypatriarchal,the settingofruralfarmlandonlyaddingemphasis.Amanismurderedwithheonlysuspectbeinghis ownwifealthoughwithnoknownmotive.Themotive,however,mayhavebeendiscoveredhadthe menbeenlessdismissiveofwhatthewomenthoughtTherearethreemen,whoseemtobein agreementthatwomentendtoworryaboutthetrivialthingsandthatitistheirnature.Thisis illustratedwhenthecharacterHalestates"Well,womenareusedtoworryingovertrifles"(1128). Howeveritisthewomenwhodiscoverthetrifleswhichultimatelypointed

...Getmorecontent...

The1916playTriflesbySusanGlaspellisaoneactmurder–mysterythatshowcasesarangeof charactersthathelptoportraytheundervaluingofwomen,theirwork,andtheirinterestsinsociety. ThemainplotrevolvesaroundfarmerLewisHale,hiswife,SheriffHenryPeters,hiswife,and countyattorneyGeorgeHendersontryingtofigureoutwhocouldhavestrangledfarmerJohn Wrightinhisbedand,moreimportantly,whyThetrueculpritisclearfromthemomentHalebegins torecountwhatoccuredthepreviousday."...Iopenedthedoor––thisdoorandthereinthatrocker––satMrs.Wright"(940).Itisn'tuntilneartheend,however,thatMrs.Wright'smotiveisrevealed.It isevidentthatMrsWrightdidnotenjoyherlifewithMrshowmorecontent Wright.Thesheriffandcountyattorneyreflectthesevaluesaswell,butwiththeirelevatedstatusin thecommunity,itmakestheirremarksevenmoreimpactful,whichcanbeseeninthewaythe womenactaroundthemen.Asthescenestarts,thewomenstayclosetothedoorratherthan huddlingaroundthefirewithmen,showingthattheyareuncomfortabletoevenbenearthem.The womensticktogetherbecausetheyaresupportforeachotherWhenthemenverbalattackthem withcommentsandbitesattheirgender,thewomeninstinctivelyhuddletogether,whichisseen afterHalesremarkwhen"Thetwowomenmovealittleclosertogether,"(942).Theydespisethe men,butwhatcantheydobutstandtogether,silentlyshowingsolidaritywitheachother.Itisalso worthnotingthattheentireplaytakesplaceinwhatwouldhavebeenseenasawoman'sspherein thehomeatthetime,thekitchenThekitcheninthishouseisincompletedisarray,withunfinished furnishingssittingfrontandcenterinthescene.Thisisareflectionoftherelationshipthatoccured withinthehome,whichisabsolutelylostonthemen,astheyseenothingbutamessand,"kitchen things,"(942)Theironyinthiscaseisthatasthemenwalkfromroomtoroom,fromthehouseto thebarn,backandforth,theyaretryingtofindamotive.Whattheycan'tsee,however,isthat

TriflesAnalysis

InTrifles,SusanGlaspelldebatestherolesbetweenmenandwomenduringaperiodwhereadebate wasnotwidelyconducted.GlaspellwroteTriflesintheearly1900s–atimewhenfeminismwasjust gettingstarted.Inthisplay,Glaspellshowsusherperspectiveontherolesofmenandwomenand howshebelievesthesituationwouldplayout.Triflesseemslikeanothermurdermysteryonthe surface,buttheplayhasamuchmoreprofoundmeaningbehinditGlaspellpresentstheideathat menandwomenanalyzesituationsdifferently,andhowthesesituationsareresolvedbasedonhow weinterpretthem.Researchshowsthatwomen'sbrains"maybeoptimizedforcombininganalytical andintuitivethinking"Ontheotherhand,malebrainsarepredominately"optimizedformotor skillsandactions"(Lewis).Intheplay,thisresearchshowstruewhenthewomen,Mrs.Haleand Mrs.Peters,analyzedetailsratherthanlookingattheapparent,physicalevidence,andtheyfindout themotiveofthemurder.Themen,ontheotherhand,lookatbroaderevidencethatdoesnotleadto anysubstantialconclusion.WhenGlaspellwaswritingthisplay,shewantedthewomentobethe realinstigators,theonesthatwouldendupsolvingthemysteryWhilethemeninthestorylaughat the'trifles'thatwomenworryabout,thesedetailsmeanagreatdealinGlaspell'seyes.Glaspell presentstheideawhatmenandwomenaredifferentinthewaytheylivetheirlivesthroughdetail.

SusanGlaspell

...Getmorecontent...

"Trifles"aplaybySusanGlaspell,emphasizesthethoughtthatwomenwerekeptintheirhomesand theircontributionstothehomeandfamilywentunappreciatedandunnoticed.Theplaygivesreaders aviewofhowwomenwereviewandtreatedduringthe1900's.Asafemaleanalyzingtheplay,Mrs. Wright'smotiveforkillingMr.Wrightwasquiteclear.SusanGlaspellgivesherreadersafeminist approach,todemonstratehowMrsWright'smurderingofherhusbandisjustified IfIweretoaskyouifkillingsomeoneisjustifiable,somewillanswerwithastrongnoandothers likememightsayitdependsonwhattheydid.However,thatisajobforthepolicetoinvestigate andfigureoutNohumanbeingkillsanotherwithoutsomesortofshowmorecontent HaleherneighborsaysthattheonlytimeMinniewrightseemedhappywaswhenshewasnot married.Mrs.Halesays,"Iheardthatsheusedtowearprettyclothesandbelively,whenshewas Minniefoster.Butwiththirtyyearsofmarriage,Mrs.Wrightisnowworriedabouthercanned preservesfreezing,andnothavingherapronwhilstsheisinjail.Mrs.Peters,thesheriff'swife suggestedthatMrsWrightwantedherapronsothatshecan"feelmorenatural";becausethatis whatsheisuseto.

WhilethemeninthestorywhereplayingSherlockHolmeslookingforevidencethatMrs.Wright killedherhusband,theymissedthebadfruitandthebreadleftoutofthebow,aquiltthatwasnot finishedandhadafewbadstiches,anuncleantableandabirdcagethatwasempty.Theywereso determinedtofindspecificcluesofthemurder,thattheymissedthecluesoftheemotionalabuse thatMrs.Wrightwassubjectedtofromherhusband.Theywerealsosobusycriticizingeverything thatMrs.Wrightdidordidnotdo,thattheymissedeverythingthatwasrightinfrontoftheireyes. TheyevenslippedwithsomesexistremarksMrHalesays'Well,womenareusedtoworryingover trifles',notrealizingthatthewomenwereintheroom.

Themenintheplayshowedlackofrespectandconcernforhowdifficultitwasforwomentokeep thehousecleanandrunningsmoothly.Duringtheplaythemendidnothingbutcriticizedeverything thewomensaidaboutMrs.Wright,theywould

...Getmorecontent...

Trifles,writtenbySusanGlaspell,isareallifemurdercasethatusessymbolismtohelpsolvea mystery.Glaspell'suseofdialect,setonamidwesternfarm,emphasizesthetown'sgender–separatedsociety.Isolationism,aquilt,andincompletehouseworkarethethreekeysymbolsinthe playthehelpthereaderfigureoutwhomurderedMrs.Wright'shusband. Firstofall,isolationismisanimportantclueinthemurdercaseMrsWright'sfarmhouseislocated inahollow,downinthewoods,whichputsherinasecludedplace.Mr.Hale,afriend,cametotalk toMr.Wrightaboutapartytelephone,buthesaid,"Heputmeoff,sayingfolkstalkedtoo muchanyway"(59)ThisisanexampleofhowMrWrightdidnotwantshowmore content...

Later,theyfindthebirdinMrs.Wright'ssewingbox,andMrs.Petersstatesthat"Somebody –wrung–its–neck"(65).Wecanassumefromthisthatherhusbandwastiredofhearingthe birdsingandhewastheonetowringtobird'sneck.But,toMrs.Wrightthebirdwasimportantto herItwastheonlynormalitytotheoutsideworldshehad,andMrWrighthadtakenthataway fromher.

AquiltthatMrs.Wrightwasworkingonisalsoanimportantsymbolintheplay.Mrs.Haleand Mrs.PetersfindthequiltMrs.Wrighthadbeenworkingon.Mrs.Halesays,referringtothesewing, "Why,itlooksasifshedidn'tknowwhatshewasabout"(63).Mrs.Wrightwasnervous whenshewassewingthequiltandhadknotteditKnottingthequiltwouldsymbolizeknottingher husband'snoose.Itisevidentthatsheisupsetaboutthebird,andhermindwasnotonquilting,but plottingherhusband'sdeath.

Finally,incompletehouseworkisthethirdimportantuseofsymbolismWhenthesheriffandthe attorneyarriveatthescene,theynoticeunwashedpans,breadoutsidethebreadboxandadishtowel onthetable.Theshefiffmakesthecomment,"Notmuchofahousekeeper,wouldyousay, ladies"(61)?WomenthetimeofTriflesalwayskeptupthehousework,anditwasunusual forthingstobeoutofplace.WecanssumethatincompletehouseworksymbolizestroubleinMrs. Wright'smarriageandthathermindwasonotherthings Inconclusion,

Theone–actplayTrifles,bySusanGlaspell,tellsthestoryofagroupofpeopleattemptingtofigure outthemurderofamanintheirneighborhoodThemainsuspectinthecaseistheman'swifeanda groupofpeoplefromthetowntrytofindanyincriminatingevidenceagainstherinthehome.There arefivecharactersinthisplay,theCountyAttorneySheriffPeters,hiswife,Mrs.Peters,Hale,a farmer,andhiswife,MrsHaleThisplaythoughttobeoneoftheearliestexamplesoffeminine dramas.Thisisobviouslyduetothethemesoffeminismandfemalestereotypespresentintheplay. Glaspellusesherpowerofrhetoric,thoughitissubtle,tomakeapointthatwomenshallnolonger beneglectedorglancedovereventhoughtheyareatthesamelevel,ifnotmoreequippedtodoall ofthesamethingsmencando.Thetopicofthisplayisclearlythecapabilityofwomentostepout oftheirstereotypeforthetimeoftheobedientwifeThisisshownwhenMrsPetersandMrsHale hidethedeadcanaryratherthanshowingittothetwomen.Theyknewthatiftheyshowedthedead birdtothemen,thenthatwouldbealltheinformationneededtomakeproveMrs.Wright'sguilt. JohnWrightwasstrangledandeveryoneknewofhistemperwhichwouldmakeitobviousthathe killedthebird.This,inturn,wouldmakeMrs.Wrightwanttokillhim.ItisclearthatGlaspell's stanceonfeminismisadamantsupportforitMrsHaleandMrsPetercommitacrimeoftheirown byhidingincriminatingevidence.Mrs.Petersisevenworseoffsincesheisthewifeofthesheriff. Yetneitherofthewomenflinchasthebirdishiddenfromthemen.TheyunderstandwhyMrs. Wrightwouldpossiblywanttodosuchathingandtheydonotthinkthatitisrightforhertobe punishedfordefendingherself.Hidingthebirdgoesbackintothethemeoffeminismbecausewhile thementhoughttheyhadsimplylettheirwivesalonetodotheir"womenstuff"thewomenhad inadvertentlysolvedthecase.

MRS.HALEIt'salogcabinpattern.Pretty,isn'tit?Iwonderifshewasgoin'toquiltitorjustknot it?(FootstepshavebeenheardcomingdownthestairsTheSHERIFFenters

...Getmorecontent...

Trifles

Trifles,writtenintheearly1900'sbySusanGlaspell,isaone–actplayillustratinghowwomencan overreacttotheirownemotions,allowingtheseemotionstocloudtheirjudgment.Thisisshownby describingthefeelingsoftwowomenwhoarewillingtodefendasuspect,blamethevictim,andgo sofarastohideevidence,toprotectanotherwomanfrombeingchargedwithmurderingher husband.Mrs.Wrightisthesuspectinthemurderofherhusband,whowasstrangledinhissleep, foundwiththeropestillaroundhisneckThesheriffandanattorneyareexaminingMrsWrights homeforevidence.Mr.Henderson,theattorney,speakingofMrs.Wrightsays,"Here'sanicemess, ..Dirtytowels!Notmuchofahousekeeper,showmorecontent

Wrightasifhewereacruelman,"hewasahardman,..likearawwindthatgetstothebone."(1171) Afterhearingthis,Mrs.PeterscompareshowMrs.Wrightmusthavefeltwithamemoryofherown past"IknowwhatstillnessisWhenwehomesteadedinDakota,andmyfirstbabydied–afterhe wastwoyearsold,andmewithnootherthen–Iknowwhatstillnessis."(1173)Thereisasenseof pityforthesuspect,angertowardthevictim,asifhemusthavedeservedtodie.

Whiletalking,thewomenfindafancyboxbelongingMrs.Wright.Insidethebox,iswhatthey believetobeMrsWright'sdeadpetbirdTheyrealizethat"somebody–wrung–its–neck"(1172) Rememberingasimilarincidentinherlife,Mrs.Peterssays,"WhenIwasagirl–mykitten–there wasaboytookahatchet,andbeforemyeyes,..Iftheyhadn'theldmebackIwouldhavehurthim." (1172)Theyplacethedeadbirdbackinthebox,andthen,surprisingly,theyhidetheboxYoucan almostseewhat'sgoingoninthemindofthesetwowomenastheymustbeimaginingpoorMrs. Wright,horrifiedthatherawfulhusbandkilledherbird,thenshemusthavesnappedandstrangled himtoendherownsuffering.

Themencomebackin,notyetfindingamotive,MrHendersonsays,"it'sallperfectlyclearexcept areasonfordoingit,..

...Getmorecontent...

ThestoryofAnHourbyKateChopinfocusesonthemaincharacter,Mrs.Mallard,ayoungwoman withaheartproblem.Onthearrivalofthebadnewsconcerningthedeathofherhusband,Richard, herhusband'sfriendandhersister,Josephine,havetobreakthenewswithgreatcarebecauseof Mrs.Mallard'shealthsituation.However,itisironicalhowMrs.Mallardreactstothishorrifying news,sheisexcitedandfeelsfreefromthechainsofhermarriageAttheendofthestory,Mr Mallardappearsandonseeingherhusband,Mrs.Mallarddiesofaheartattack.Similarly,Triflesby SusanGlaspellisamurdermysterystory,whichexaminesgenderrelationshipsandhowwomenand mensharepowerTherefore,thepaperexploreswomen'ssocialshowmorecontent IntheTrifles,SusanGlaspellexposeshowthesocietylooksdownuponwomen,andinmarriage,a womanbecomesaman'sproperty.Moreover,sincethe1900s,womenhavestruggledtobreakaway fromabusivemarriages.Therefore,SusanGlaspellclearlyarguesthatthesocietydoesnoteven appreciatewomen'sefforts,suchaspaininchildbearing,household,andfarmchores.Susan Glaspellpresentwomenassecond–classcitizensupposedtoperformhouseholdchores(Hilton146) While,ontheotherhand,menhavetherighttoperformmostimportantjobs,aswomen,suchas Mrs.Wrighthaveafixeddailyroutine.Inthesameway,KateChopinarguesthatwomenarenot happyintheirmarriagesbecausetheyhavenofreedom.Forexample,Mrs.Mallardfeelscagedby hermarriageandevenfeelsrelieveduponthedeathofherhusband.However,finally,thestoryends sadlyupontheappearanceofMrMallard,makingMrsMallardsuddendisappearanceofher happinessandfreedom(Berenji88).Infact,Mrs.Mallardcannotcometorealityoftheshockand shediesfromaheartattack.Thus,bothstories,giveadetaileddescriptionofhowthesociety perceivedwomenandtheirtreatmentattheirrespective

...Getmorecontent...

InSusanGlaspell'splayTrifles,writtenin1916,twofemalecharactersareleftinthekitchenofa housewhereamurderhasbeencommitted,whilethemenfolksearcharoundforclues.Themen largelyignorethewomenandaremockingofthemandtheirpettyconcernsontheoccasionsthat theydospeaktothem.Whilethemenareaboutlookingforthe"coldhardfacts"ofthemurder,the womenareinthekitchenbotheringwith"trifles"thatdisplayallofthedetailsaboutthewife'slife and,mostprobably,hermotivationforthemurder.Inthisplay,SusanGlaspellhaswrittenmale charactersthatclearlydisplaythe"EthicsofJustice",asortofrightisrightandwrongiswrong view;whilethewomenclearlyembodythe"EthicsofCare",aviewthattakesrelationshipsand feelingsintoaccountwhenjudgingthemoralityofactions.The"EthicsofJustice"dealwithlarge, sweeping,abstractconceptsabouttheidealsofJusticewithoutregardtorelationships.Aviewthat wrongiswrongnomatterwhatthecircumstancesreally.The"EthicsofJustice"encourage "impartialduty"and"portraythemoralagentassomeonewholistenstoreason,figuresouttheright thingtodo,anddoesit"(96)TheyadmitthattheyareholdingMrsWrightformurderandtheyare lookingfor"amotive;somethingtoshowanger,or––suddenfeeling"(101).However,theyfailto actuallysearchtheplacewherethewomanwouldhavespentmostofhertime.TheEthicsofJustice, justasthemenintheplay,arelargelyunconcernedwithpersonaldetails.Themenarelikely lookingforsomethingverylargeintheirsearch,ratherthantheslow–buildingmotivethatthe womenpiecetogetherTheyfailentirelytonoticeanythingoutofplaceaboutthekitchenandchalk anythingthattheydonoticeuptoMrs.Wrightbeing"notmuchofahousekeeper"(99).Inshort,the menareconcernedwiththe"Why"ofthecasebutonlyinthelargetermsofwhattheywould consider,impetusformurderTheyareconcernedwithfindingareasonthatmakessensetothem butnotnecessarilytothe,inalllikelihood,femalemurderer.Itseemsthattheyareattemptingto determine"Whatwouldcauseanotherpersontomurderaninnocentman?"ratherthan

...Getmorecontent...

"Well,womenareusedtoworryingovertrifles"oneofthehusbandsinSusanGlaspell'splayTrifles stateswhenthewomentrytogivetheirinterpretationofacrimescene.Thisisjustoneexampleof howwomentendtoberespectedmuchlessthantheirmalecounterpartsinamale–dominated society.AlthoughtheplayTrifleswaswrittenintheyear1916,manyofthefeministthemesfound inthisplaycanbefoundintoday'ssocietystillMichaelHollingerwrotetheplayNakedLunchin theyear2003,andthefemaleroleisstillwrittenastheweakermorevulnerablecharacter.Justas theywerethen,womenareoftenportrayedasvictimsanddonotreceivethesamerespectthatmen doinourmale–dominatedworldIntheplayNakedLunchbyMichaelHollinger,theaudiencesees averycontrollingandabusiverelationshipbetweentwoex–loversbeingportrayed,withthemale characterVernonactingveryaggressivetowardsthefemalecharacterLucy.Thetwo'slunchstarts offfineenough,butitbecomesincreasinglytenseafterLucyadmitssheisnowavegetarian.Itis madeblatantlyobviousfromVernonthathethinksthischoiceisridiculous,eventhoughhehasno righttocontrolherHecannotseemtoacceptthisfactabouthernewlife,andevengoesonestep furtherashepokesfunatthematter,saying"yoursoulsaidtoyou'nomoremeat'"(989).Using contextcluesfromthesexualundertonesofthisplay,onecanconcludethatVernonmaybemore upsetathernotwantingtoeatadifferentkindofmeatperse.Throughoutthelunch,Vernontriesto pressureherintoeatthemeatandenjoythemeal,statinghe"figureI'llopenabottleofwine, apologizemaybewe'llgetnaked,belikeoldtimes,"(991)Lucydoesn'tseemtobekeenonthis ideaatall,yetVernonkeepspushinghertoeatthemeatuntilheisscreaming"EATTHEMEAT!" whilestandinginfrontofherphase(991).ThiscanbeinterpretedasVernonsexuallyabusingLucy, whoobviouslydidnotwanttobeintimatewithhiminanyregard,andwhosaidnomultipletimes Lucywasmostdefinitelythevictiminthissituationasevenwhenshewasinanuncomfortable situation,Vernonwasrelentlessandforcedhertodosomethingshedidnot

...Getmorecontent...

Thetruedefinitionoftheworldtrifleissomethingofverylittlevalueorimportance."Trifles"isa storyaboutasmallgroupofpeopletryingtosolvethemysteryofwhyawomankilledherhusband. TwowomennamedMrs.PetersandMrs.Halearehelpingthetwomen,thesheriffandthecounty attorney,findMrs.Wright'smotivetokillherhusband.Thewomenbegintofindsmalldetailsthat revealsplentyofinformationthatcouldbeusefulintheinvestigationofthemurderThesesmall detailsthatthewomenfindaroundMrs.Wright'shomeare"Trifles"tothemen.AsMrs.Petersand Mrs.Halesearcharoundthehouse,Mrs.Petersfindsabirdcageinacupboard.Mrs.Halefindsa deadbirdwrappedinaboxwithitsneckbroken,andinfindingthis,theycometotherealization thatMrs.Wrightkilledherhusbandbecausehekilledherbird.ThewomenknowthatMrs.Wright's husbanddidnotenjoyhersingingandhewouldneverallowhertohaveabirdbecauseitsangtoo. Whilesearchingacupboardforsomesewingsuppliestofixapoorlysewnquilt,Mrs.Halefindsa birdcagetuckedawayinsideofit.ThebirdcagethatMrs.Halefindsisthemostsymbolicobjectthat revealsthemotiveforthecrimeAbirdcagecanbesymbolofconfinementorimprisonmentMrs Halesays,"No,Wrightwouldn'tlikethebird–athingthatsang.Sheusedtosing.Hekilledthat,too" (781).Mrs.HalecomparesMrs.WrighttoabirdinthesensethatbirdssingbutMr.Wrightdoesnot wanther

...Getmorecontent...

Aplaycanbeanalyzedinmultipleways.Oneofthesewaysisthroughtheplay'stheme.Thetheme ofaworkisoftenastatementaboutlifeandthehumancondition.IntheplayTriflesbySusan Glaspell,thethemenoticingthelittlethingscanmakeadifferencecanbeexplainedthroughplot, character,andsetting.

ThethemecanbedevelopedthroughtheplotInTrifles,MrWrightwasfoundmurderedinhisbed, sothepolicearrestedhiswife.Mrs.HaleandMrs.Peters,neighborsoftheWrights,wenttoMrs. Wright'shousetopickupsomethingsforherwhileshewasinjail.AstheywerelookingforMrs. Wright'ssewingkit,thewomenfoundabirdcagewithitsdoortornopeninthecupboardAfter lookingsomemore,Mrs.HaleandMrs....showmorecontent...

Wrightasthemurderer.

Alongwithplot,charactercanhelpdevelopthetheme.Mrs.HaleandMrs.PeterssaythatMrs. Wrightusedtobelivelyandsocial,andusedtosinginthechoir.However,Mrs.Wrightnowstays inherhomemostofthetimeThewomenalsosaythatMrWrightwasahardmanHemighthave madeMrs.Wrightgiveupherfriendsandhersinging.WhenMrs.Wrightgotacanary,Mr.Wright mighthavestrangleditbecausehedidnotlikeitssinging.Mrs.Wrightmightthenhavemurdered Mr.Wrightfortakingawaytheonethingshehadleft.

Settingcanalsobeusedtodevelopthetheme.ThesettingintheplaywasMrs.Wright'skitchen. TheWrights'housewasisolated,downinahollowTheisolation,coupledwithnotgoingtotown anymore,mighthavefeltterribleforMrs.Wright.Inthe1920's,thewoman'splacewas traditionallyinthekitchen,soanycluesaboutMrs.Wrightwouldbeinherkitchen.Shehadlefta messoutinthekitchen:ahalf–wipedtable,unwashedpotsandpans,adishtowellyingout,anda misplacedloafofbread.Mrs.Wrightwouldonlyhaveleftamessifshewasinahurryorwas interrupted,suchasbyMr.Wrightcominginandkillingthecanary.

Mrs.HaleandMrs.Petersshowedthatnoticingthelittlethingscouldmakeadifference.By noticingthemessinthekitchenandfindingthestrangledcanary,Mrs.HaleandMrs.Peterswere abletofigureoutthatMrsWrightkilledMr

...Getmorecontent...

TriflesResearchPaper

Genderdiscriminationstartswiththeassignmenttoasexcategoryonthebasisofwhatthegenitalia lookslike.Genderisasignificantpartofourlife,anditisanimportantpartforbothmenand women.Itdependsonbothpersonsbasedonhowtoactandhowthey'reacting?Inoursocialpoint ofview,manrolehasbeentotakecareofhisfamilyandchildren.Thehouseworkisusuallythe basisofthewoman'sroleIntheplay"Trifles,"womenwereignorantandlackrespectforthemen MensuperiorityextentsarethemeninthestoryfeelcomfortablewithdisparagingMrs.Petersand Mrs.Hale'sinterestintrifleswiththeclearsynthesisthatwomenaresoimpulsiveandingenerous aboutthesignificantissuesuchasMrsWright'sfarmhouse

...Getmorecontent...

Trifleswaswrittenintheearly1900'sbySusanGlaspell.Thisoccurredfarbeforethewomen's movement.Womenweregenerallylookeduponaspossessionstotheirhusbands.Theirchildren,all wages,andbelongingswerepropertyoftheirhusbands.InGlaspell'sstoryitiseasilydepictedasto whatrolethemenandwomenportrayedinsocietyatthistime.

Glaspellprovesherpointbyaconversationbetweentwowomeninthisstory.Thewomen,Mrs. PetersandMrs.Hale,areatthesceneofthemurderofJohnWright.Thewomenaccompaniedthe CountyAttorney,theSheriff,andMrHaletothehouseMrHaledescribeseverythingthathesaw themorninghediscoveredMr.Wright'sbody.Themenhavecometothehouselookingfor evidencetoshowmorecontent

Allthemennoticeisclutter.Themendonotlookdeeperbehindthemeaningsofthisdisarray. However,thewomendo.Thewomenunderstandthatthereasonthatthingssuchasthetowelsare notcleanisbecauseshemorethanlikelywasbusydoinghermanyotherchoresofthehousehold TheyalsoconsideredhowmuchtroubleMrs.Wrightwenttofixthepreserves.Thewomenreason thattheuncaringconcernJohnhadforMinnieandtheattentionhepaidtothehouseperhapsforced Minnietoresorttokilling.EventheCountyAttorney,Sheriff,andMr.Halecouldnotunderstandall thedifficultieswomengothrough.TheycriticizeMrs.Wrightaswellasinsultallwomen.Mr.Hale says,"Well,womenareusedtoworryingovertrifles"Theactionsofjustthesemen showhowwomenweretakenforgrantedinthisera.Inevitably,themenareunabletoprovethat Mrs.Wrightmurderedherhusbandbutaregoingtoconvictheranyway.However,thewomenhave solvedthecaseTheycometotheconclusionthatMrsWrightwasnottreatedverywellbyher husbandandwasnotabletowithstandthemistreatmentanymore.Theycouldtellthelackof attentionhepaidtohiswife.Themenstillhaveahardtimeacceptingthisconceptbecausetheydo notbelievethatmentreatwomenbadly.

Thetitle,Trifles,aswellastheexamplesallrepresenthowmenviewwomenA"trifle" issomething

...Getmorecontent...

Trifles,bySusanK.Glaspell,isaplaywrittenin1917whentheneedforwomen'srightswas sought.Throughouttheyears,manyproductionsoftheplayhavetakenplace,asthestoryisfamous forit'sstrongopiniononthetreatmentofwomen,howevermanydirectorstakewhattheycanfrom thestorytogivetheirinterpretationofthecharacters,setting,andtheplot.AvideoproductionofA JuryofHerPeers,directedbySallyHeckel,willbedifferentthananaudioproductionofthesame play,directedMartinJenkins,eveniftheysticktothesamedialogue.Forexample,thebirdscene, althoughwiththesamelinesandcharacters,canhavedifferentundertonesdependingonhowthe charactersstresstheirwords,thepausesbetweensentences,theirsubtletyortheirblatantlywhenin action,andeventheemotionexpressedonthecharactersface.However,howcanyouseethese emotionsthroughjustanaudiooftheplay?Howcanyoufeelthetensionintheair,thepained expressiononthecharacter'sface,ortheirtight–lippedremarks?Theaudioproductionduetoit's lackofvisualrepresentationhastocompensatewithfervidvoiceactionandcontrolledbackground noisesDuetothis,MsPetersoundssophisticatedandappearedtosoundpleasedwhenfindingthe birdcageinMrs.Wright'skitchen.Whenaddressingthebirdcage,Ms.PetersandMs.Haletalkfast paced,thiscausestheirconversationtosoundwholeliketheyknowwhatthey'retalkingabout. Throughoutthescenetheemotionsthattheyportrayarewatery;myonlyexplanationisthatthereis noheavinessorintensityofthetruthofbirdcage,theyhavenobuildupoftheplotasifthepresence ofthebirdcageisasmallmatterbutnottheinitialcauseofMsWright'stroubleHowever,when Ms.haledescribesMs.WrightthetonechangestoaseriousnoteThevideoproduction,ontheother hand,bringsthescenetolife.Theyperfectlyportraythehouseasstuffy,small,andworndownjust howahouseonafarmwouldactuallylooklikeTheconversationbetweenthetowncharactersare perfectlyconstructed,withMs.PetersandhersoftconcernedfacetoMs.Haleandherweary,worn outpersonality.Ms.Halesoundssorrowfulinthehomesinceshewas

...Getmorecontent...

Theunknownauthorof"Overview:Trifles"focusesonthebackgroundSusanGlaspell'sandhow shecameupwiththeideaofwriting"Trifles".Theplay"Trifles"wasinspiredfromatrueevent happenedinIowaandGlaspellwasthereporterforthecaseandlatershewrotetheplay. Additionally,themainpointofthisarticleistogoondetailsfromthesettingof"Trifles"toallthe waytoexplainingthecharacters'characteristicsFurthermore,thissourceisvaluablebecausethis sourceonlygivemetheinformationontheplotandthecharacters.Thisisreliablebecauseitdoesn't giveanybiasedinformation.Thegoalforthisarticleistogivelittledetailsabout"Trifles"thatno othersourcewillgiveMoreover,thissourceisbeneficial

...Getmorecontent...

ComparisonOfTriflesAndAJuryOfHerPeers

"Trifles"aplaywrittenbySusanGlaspellisalsoashortstorynamed"AJuryofherPeers".These twoformsofwritingthataresimilarinmanyregardsbutsomewhatdifferentwhentakenacloser lookthrough.Thefollowingwithcompareandcontrastthegenresofthestory,giveadetailed reasoningonwhyoneisbetterthantheother,andapreferenceonwhichtitleisbetterandalludes moretothewritingFirstly,theplay"Trifles"isagenremorefocusedontheitemsthroughoutthe bookthatlenditselftocontinuechapterbychapterusingdifferentitemstoenhancethestory.In"A JuryofHerPeers"Glaspellusesmoreorlessthesamedialoguefromtheplaybutintensifiesitwith thestoryfocusingoncharacterssuchasMrsHaleandMrsPetersTheshortstoryaddsamore descriptiveinsightintothestoryallowingusasreaderstodivedeepintotheemotionsandmindsof itscharacters.Theplaydoesnotdothisaswellduetothefactthatitwaswrittensothattheactors andactressesonstagecanportraytheemotionsandhelpdevelopthestorythroughthereacting.In theplay,theitemsarethethingsthatjudgeMinnieFosterwhereasthestoryusesMrs.HaleandMrs. PeterstointerprettheobjectsandtellthestorythatwayTheothermaindifferenceisthatthemale charactershavemoredepthintheshortstorythanintheplay.Secondly,inmyopiniontheshort story"AJuryofHerPeers"isabetterstorythat"Trifles."Thisismainlyduetothe ...Getmorecontent...

"Trifles"isaplaywithaunifiedplot.Althoughthereareverbalflashbackstotheeventsoftheday ofthemurderofJohnWright,theplay'sentireplotbeginsandendsinaspanofoneday.Theauthor alsoextendstheunifiedplottocreateasinglesetting(thefarmhousekitchen).Theplotcenterson JohnWright'smurder.Mrs.Wrightisthemainsuspect;aninvestigationistakingplaceastothe motiveorreasonforthecrime

TheSheriff,Mr.HaleandtheCountyAttorneyareintroducedfirsttotheaudience.Theyare investigatingthecrimesceneThewomen,MrsHaleandMrsPeters,accompanythementogather whateverofMrs.Wright'sbelongingsthatsheneedsinjail.Thisexpositionturnsironicwhenthe womenendshowmorecontent

Mrs.Peters,we'llcallhertheantagonist,repeatedlybringsupthefactthatthemenareonlydoing theirjobandthatthelawwilldetermineMrs.Wright'sfate.Mrs.Hale,ontheotherhand,asthe protagonist,resentsthemen's"sneaking"and"snoopingaroundNowsheturnsthemen'sstereotype ofwomenagainstthem.ShefeelsguiltyaboutnotbeingaroundtheWright'sfarmhousemoreoften.

Theclimaxoftheplayunfoldsasthewomenfindanemptybirdcagewithabrokenhinge.Asthe twowomenspeculatewhyitwasempty,Mrs.HaledescribesMrs.WrighttoMrs.Petersasshe knewherwhentheyweresinglewomenThesuspect'smaidennamewasMinnieFosterShewasa beautifulsongstress.AvoicethatwasmutedwhenshebecameMrs.Wright.

WhenMrsHalefindsadeadbirdinMrsWright'ssewingbox,shesoonrecognizestheobvious reasonwhyJohnWrightwasmurdered.TheaudienceseescharactermotivationinMrs.Wright.Mr. Wrightwasamanwhousedsilenceandcoldnesstocontrolandmoldhiswifeintosomeonehe thoughtsheoughttobe.Hekilledthesingingbird,whichwasasymbolforMrs.WrightasMinnie Foster.Inanindirectway,hekilledherjoyofsinging,herspirit,keepingherinherown"cage" whichshecannotescapefromUnlessshe"gotridof"what(orwho)washoldingherprisoner

Asshecomesupwithherownjudgments,Mrs.Hale

...Getmorecontent...