Analysis of Susan Glaspell’s “Trifles” Essay - 1101 Words

The single act play â€Å"Trifles† is loosely based on the murder of a farmer in the state of Iowa in the early nineteenth century, which Glaspell reported on while working as a journalist. The farmer’s wife was accused of the murder, and was initially convicted, but later acquitted. Literary analysts note that Glaspell â€Å"approached the case like a detective† (Bryan and Wolf). More than a decade after that incident, when she was a career writer, analysts describe, â€Å"in a span of ten days, Glaspell composed a one-act play† being inspired from that real life murder event (Bryan and Wolf). In â€Å"Trifles,† while the county attorney and sheriff, along with Mr. Hale are investigating the murder of Mr. Wright, the female companions Mrs. Hale and Mrs.†¦show more content†¦In her marriage, Mrs. Wright did not have children and that made the place â€Å"a quite house† (1391). This, along with her isolated surrounding atmosphere, made her feel lonelier. The place where Mrs. Wright lives is not so pleasant, and as Mrs. Hale ponders, â€Å"may be because it’s down in a hollow†, and no visibility of the people around (1391). Also, because of her marriage conditions, Minnie was forced to alienate herself from meeting with other ladies. Because of her loneliness and her inherent vivacious personality, she attached herself to the singing canary. Minnie suffocated in her marriage with the imposing John Wright. The town knows John as a good man because â€Å"he didn’t drink, and kept his word,† and also â€Å"paid his debts† (1391). However, he is not a very friendly person, nor easy to get along with, and he is â€Å"like a raw wind that gets to the bone† because of his uncompassionate relationships with people (1391). Mrs. Hale â€Å"doesn’t think a place’d be any cheerfuller for John Wright being in it† (1388). John was a very greedy and stringe nt person, as Mrs. Hale recalls, â€Å"Wright was close,† and that made Minnie to â€Å"kept so much to herself† (1389). Even the neighbor Mr. Hale knows about John, as he tells the attorney, â€Å"what his wife wanted made (not) much difference to John† (1386). It doesn’t surprise Mrs. Hale why Minnie had the bird, because John is â€Å"noShow MoreRelatedLiterary 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. 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Mustazza’s article may help aid readers to understand the differences between Glaspell’s two works and provide understanding as to why Glaspell may have changed the genre and form of the plot. â€Å"Trifles† is a dramatic play whereas â€Å"A Jury of Her Peers† is proseRead MoreThe Role Of Women In The Doll House And Trifles1667 Words   |  7 Pagesweaker sex. It was the women’s job to stay home to cook and raise the children. While these are still prevalent issues, it is also true that things has gotten better for some women in recent years. Works like â€Å"The Doll House† by Henrik Ibsen and â€Å"Trifles† by Susan G laspell have helped advance the idea of what roles women should play in society. 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The play highlights the transformationRead MoreSusan Glaspell s Trifles 1358 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Trifles† is written by the mid-1900s feminist author Susan Glaspell. The one act play depicts the conflict surrounding the murder of John Wright and his wife’s, Minnie Wright’s, involvement in his strangulation. While this drama appears to tell the simple tale of a murder investigation, Glaspell intertwines her feminist views into the plot. The male and female characters’ investigations of John Wright’s death reveal a deeper meaning. The stark contrasts between the men and women in the story displayRead MoreTrifles: a Moral Justifacation for Murder Essay1043 Words   |  5 PagesTrifles: A Moral Justification for Murder The one act play â€Å"Trifles† depicts the views and passions of both men and women during the late-nineteenth century regarding the role of a woman. The characters in the play are the County Attorney, the Sheriff, and Mr. Hale, who are accompanied by Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters into the Wright’s home to investigate the murder of Mr. Wright. The men feel that the women are only concerning themselves with little things and make several condescending comments throughout