Susan Glaspells Trifles Essay - 1156 Words

Susan Glaspells Trifles Susan Glaspells Trifles explores the classical male stereotype of women by declaring that women frequently worry about matters of little, or no importance. This stereotype makes the assumption that only males are concerned with important issues, issues that females would never discuss or confront. The characters spend the entirety of the play searching for clues to solve a murder case. Ironically, the female characters, Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale, uncover crucial evidence and solve the murder case, not the male characters. The men in the play, the Sheriff, County Attorney, and Hale, search the scene of the crime for evidence on their own, and mock the womens discussions. The womens interest in the quilt,†¦show more content†¦The women take a good look at the quilt, and notice how one of the sections is very sloppy and ?looks as if she doesnt know what she was about.? This section is very different from all of the other sections, and the women infer that Mrs. Wright was nervou s when she was sewing that piece. They begin to wonder what would make Mrs. Wright so uneasy that she would start sewing carelessly. Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale then search for more sewing supplies, which leads them to find the next clue, a broken bird cage door, inside of a cupboard. The women wonder why someone would break such a thing, and are curious as to where the bird is that lived inside of the cage. Mrs. Hale then explains how lonesome Mrs. Wright must have been, with her husband at work all day and having no children in the household. Mrs. Hale says that Mr. Wright was a ?hard man,? and she shivers when thinking about what it would be like ?just to pass the time of day with him.? The women then understand why the lonely woman would want a pet, such as a bird, around the house to keep her company. Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale find their next clue, a dead canary, when they are looking for more sewing materials. The lifeless bird is found in a sewing basket wrapped in a piece of silk, and it looks as if someone choked the life out of the poor creature. The men then interrupt the women, and speak to them mockingly once again. The men notice the bird cage, but fail to take a closer look atShow MoreRelatedSusan Glaspells Trifles810 Words   |  3 PagesSusan Glaspell’s one act play â€Å"Trifles† is based on an actual murder court trial that she remembered covering from her days as a newspaper reporter in Iowa. She wrote at a time when women were supposed to be submissive to men and especially to their husbands. This play takes a look at a common social problem during the early 1900s when Americans wanted to keep all of their relationship problems private. Many married couples would do anything to keep their lives free from scandal, and this murderRead MoreSusan Gl aspells Trifles1479 Words   |  6 PagesSusan Glaspell’s 1916 play titled â€Å"Trifles† uses many elements of drama such as, diction and spectacle through the actions of the two women as they rummage through a unusually messy kitchen to develop complexity and hold the attention of the audience until the very end. Glaspell uses irony and common misconceptions to convey her powerful message â€Å"Trifles† is also a play that reflects a clear notion of gender and sex roles. Glaspell, a feminist writer, writes plays that are known for their developmentRead MoreWomen In Susan Glaspells Trifles931 Words   |  4 PagesSusan Glaspell’s â€Å"Trifles† attempts to answer a single question for the public. Why do women, a stereotypically quiet and submissive group, turn to murder? The male dominated society of the 1900’s found answers by simply branding them as insane; men were never to blame because only a crazy women would turn on a man. However, Glaspell empowers the women of her play in their submissive roles by utilizing the oppression by men to point out the holes in the male-dominated legal system. Linda Ben-ZviRead MoreSymbolism In Susan Glaspells Trifles751 Words   |  4 Pagesintellectual, working human being. This is what writers like Susan Glaspell tried to change. â€Å"Trifles† is a short play that takes place at a murder scene and entails how two intelligent women solve the murder by using evidence that is hidden from the men’s perspective. The creativeness of Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters reveal the ugly truth that Mrs. Wright, in fact, did kill her husband after years of emotional neglect and abuse. Glaspell’s showcases her righteous views on abusive relationships and howRead MoreSusan Glaspells Play, Trifles593 Words   |  2 PagesWhat are trifles? In Susan Glaspell’s play, Trifles, we look at a murder case that happens in an isolated farmhouse. Mr. Wright has been murdered while he was asleep. Someone has a strung a rope around his neck. That someone is Mrs. Wright. Trifles illustrates that men have substantially more power than women. They first start by going in to the kitchen. Everyone observes the kitchen to see that it is a mess. The men leaves the room. The ladies wonder about the kitchen. Mrs. Wright requested thatRead MoreSusan Glaspell’s Trifles Essay1242 Words   |  5 PagesThe first reading I enjoyed was Susan Glaspell’s â€Å"Trifles†. The main character in the plat is a sheriff, his wife, the county attorney, and Mr. and Mrs. Hale. The opening scene is all of them in John Wright’s kitchen. Mr. Hale tells the sheriff and attorney how he a visited the house on the day before day and Mrs. Wright greeted him but her demeanor was little suspicions. She told him that her husband was upstairs dead. She says she was asleep when someone choked her husband to death. All theRead MoreLiterary Analysis of Susan Glaspells Trifles1788 Words   |  7 PagesAn Analysis of Natures in Susan Glaspells Trifles A trifle is something that has little value or importance, and there are many seeming trifles in Susan Glaspells one-act play Trifles. The irony is that these trifles carry more weight and significance than first seems to be the case. Just as Glaspells play ultimately reveals a sympathetic nature in Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale, the evidence that the men investigators fail to observe, because they are blind to the things that have importanceRead MoreGender Roles In Susan Glaspells Trifles935 Words   |  4 PagesAllya Henry Professor Hopkins ENC1102/CRN10807 4 October 2017 Gender Roles in â€Å"Trifles† Early twentieth century America is shaped by World War I , the effects of industrial growth, and a beginning of a new age in literature. Despite movements for progressive reforms like the prohibition of alcohol and the movement for women’s suffrage women’s rights were still limited by traditional gender roles. Women are a â€Å"detached portion† of their husbands and expected to submit to his every demand. As resultRead More Essay on Sacrifices in Susan Glaspells Trifles1146 Words   |  5 PagesSacrifices in Trifles When a woman marries she is expected to give up her family, her last name, and her virginity. In other words she is expected to give up the life she knew. Susan Glaspell’s play Trifles tells the story of a woman that gave up her all to please society and her husband. The story examines a woman who sacrificed her tranquility, her talents, and her individuality. In the end, the woman even gave up her freedom. A person’s home should be more than a place toRead MoreUnderstanding Feminism in Susan Glaspells Trifles1577 Words   |  7 PagesMelissa Prather English 102 Research Paper May 8th, 2012 Understanding Feminism in Susan Glaspell’s Trifles Susan Glaspell lived during a time where women’s rights were not fully acknowledged. The oppression of women during this time stretched to the point that they were not truly acknowledged as their own person. They were to be seen and not heard so to speak. Their sole purpose was to take care of their families by keeping house and performing their caretaker duties. Glaspell even demonstrates