trifles feminist essay

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Trifles — Feminism In Trifles By Susan Glaspell

Feminism in Trifles by Susan Glaspell

Categories: Gender Equality Trifles Women's Rights

About this sample

Words: 958 |

Published: Jan 28, 2021

Words: 958 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr. Heisenberg

Verified writer

Expert in: Social Issues Literature

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

2 pages / 978 words

2 pages / 928 words

3 pages / 1319 words

1.5 pages / 763 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Feminism in Trifles by Susan Glaspell Essay

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Trifles

Susan Glaspell's Trifles is a thought-provoking play that explores the gender roles and social expectations prevalent in early 20th-century America through the use of symbolism. In this essay, we will examine the play's themes [...]

Susan Glaspell's play "Trifles" is a thought-provoking piece that explores the power dynamics between men and women in early 20th-century America. One of the key elements that adds depth and richness to the play is its intricate [...]

In the captivating play "Trifles" by Susan Glaspell, the audience is introduced to a murder mystery that delves deep into the complexities of human behavior and societal norms. Set in a rural farmhouse, the story unfolds as the [...]

The Drama Trifles by Susan Glaspell addresses the issues of gender, isolation, and justice in society. The play sheds light on the oppression faced by women, a prevalent issue in many communities. The male character in the play [...]

Looking over the course of time, women in every society have been expected to maintain the household living up to the old adage that they, like children, should be seen and not heard. In the play “Trifles” written by Susan [...]

Gender Symbolism in TriflesIn the play Trifles by Susan Glaspell, gender symbolism plays a central role in the exploration of the themes of oppression, power dynamics, and the limitations imposed on women in a patriarchal [...]

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

Instructions Followed To The Letter
Deadlines Met At Every Stage
Unique And Plagiarism Free

Feminism in the Play “Trifles” by Susan Glaspell

Introduction.

Despite being written at the beginning of the 20 th century, the play “Trifles” still presents an important source and obligatory to read for people interested in feminism. It was created by an American playwright and journalist, Susan Glaspell, in 1916, and the author conducted pioneer research on the topic of women’s rights and possibilities. In the play, the author addresses a variety of themes, and the social oppression of women is one, which is covered especially comprehensively. Describing women of that time in the play, their lifestyle, and relationships with their husbands, Susan Glaspell presents a unique approach to this topic. She highlights that restrictions imposed by men not only regard the division of labor, but also genitively affect different aspects of women’s life.

Historical Background

First of all, before analyzing “Trifles”, it is essential to outline the historical context of the play and some aspects of the author’s biography. At the beginning of the twentieth century, feminist ideas and intentions were widely discussed among the broad public, as women were eager to adhere to equality in society (Ben-Zvi 50). During this period, which is called First-Wave Feminist, activists were determined to elaborate practical steps that will lead to the attainment of legal rights. Supporters of this movement expressed their objections and requirements via marches and protests. This event of social life had a considerable impact on literary tendencies as well (Arcinieg 46).

Consequently, “Trifles” appears to be the response to current ideas in society and changing of mass worldview (Ben-Zvi 34). Sharing feminist objectives and program, Susan Glaspell discusses the problem of inequality in her play.

Susan Glaspell was concerned about the position of women in society, and her activity is an example of how a woman can realize themselves without a man. As for the life of the author, she had conservative parents, who imposed her particular gender standards (Ben-Zvi). However, when Susan Glaspell became an adolescent, she stuck to the current tendencies, which implied changing attitudes to women and their roles in society (Ben-Zvi).

She entered Drake University, which was unhabitual for women at that time (“Trifles by Susan Glaspell, a D’moiselles Production in NYC”). Moreover, when she was eighteen, she worked as a journalist for a local newspaper, and after graduation, the author started her reporter career. Susan Glaspell resented the conviction that the only trajectory of life for women was marrying a man, and, for this reason, she earned money for living herself (Arcinieg 48). Therefore, “Trifles” is an expression of her resentment to the social pattern, which becomes obsolete and restricted women from living fully.

Women and Social Oppression

Oppression of women regarded their lifestyle and defined their daily activity. In the play, the author shows the world, where all the leading positions and roles are occupied by men. Hence, women were significantly restricted in their activity, and they were out of particular social expectations, such as the necessity only to do household chores and be dependent on a husband. Women were not allowed to control and express their identity.

In “Trifles”, men behave in the way described earlier, limiting women’s roles. For instance, George Henderson, an attorney, and Henry Peters, sheriff, treat Minnie Wright disrespectfully (“Trifles by Susan Glaspell, a D’moiselles Production in NYC”). They highlight that she should focus on performing household chores and caring for children, ignoring the fact that she may have a desire to realize herself in other occupations. In addition, they find it normal to judge her drawbacks and her mistakes in this regard.

Another illustrative example is the characters Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters, as their names were chosen by the author intentionally. In order to understand the attitude to Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters, it should be mentioned that they are the main characters of the play. Susan Glaspell aims to emphasize that they are indemnified only for their husbands, and their personality is not taken into consideration to such an extent that their names are not mentioned (Bazregarzade).

Minnie Wright is the only female character in the play, whose first name is introduced and used by others. However, her name reflects that her marriage led to losing herself (“Trifles by Susan Glaspell, a D’moiselles Production in NYC”). The woman has to spend all her time alone at home, even being isolated from her children (“Trifles by Susan Glaspell, a D’moiselles Production in NYC”). It should be highlighted that it is not a singular event, and such a lifestyle was widespread among women during that period. On the contrary, men have the possibility to communicate with others as much as they want. Comparing the positions of women and men, the author draws attention to inequality and dishonesty, which was admitted in society.

The oppression of women becomes even more considerable during the play. Reflecting on the popular feminist ideas, Susan Glaspell presents a view that social oppression of women is not limited by labor division, and it covers a great number of aspects of life.

As well as limiting the lifestyle of women, men’s attitude to women restricted their intentions, bonds, character, and development in general. Women did not have a possibility to reveal their intelligence, as it was commonly belittled by men, as they did not even think that women may cope with deep intelligent problems. Women were allowed to do household chores and caring for children, and this presented the matter men laughed at (“Trifles by Susan Glaspell, a D’moiselles Production in NYC”). They blamed women for their naivety and simplicity, though they did not realize that their behavior led to such a reality.

In addition, the conditions, which were imposed on women, affect their mental state. As well as Minnie Wright, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters present some reflections on the issue of isolation during the play. For instance, Mrs. Peters describes that she was frightened to stay alone when her husband was away and her only child died (“Trifles by Susan Glaspell, a D’moiselles Production in NYC”). Furthermore, having several children, Mrs. Hale mentions that she finds it dreadful being alone in the house.

As for Minnie, one of the reasons, why she committed the crime, was her loneliness and isolation. The character reminds that the whole her lifestyle changes when she married her husband (“Trifles by Susan Glaspell, a D’moiselles Production in NYC”). Instead of happiness and love, she had to spend the majority of her time in an empty house, which is “down in hollow” (“Trifles by Susan Glaspell, a D’moiselles Production in NYC” 10:38).

She even could not see the road from her window. Minnie did not socialize with other people, and she did not have children. Consequently, loneliness drives her to murder, which made her relieved (“Trifles by Susan Glaspell, a D’moiselles Production in NYC”). Thus, it is evident that oppression and restrictions imposed by the men altered the mind of the character in a negative way and made her commit the crime.

Therefore, Susan Glaspell highlights the harm of social oppression of women in numerous ways throughout “Trifles”. The fact that the female characters realize the consequence of their lifestyle and their husband’s impact reflects the author’s position in this regard. At the beginning of “Trifles”, women show no resentment to the current traditions of men’s dominance in their lives and perceive it as something evident and habitual. However, their opinion is changing during the play, and they realize the dread of such a lifestyle (“Trifles by Susan Glaspell, a D’moiselles Production in NYC”). The same happened to the author, who had conservative parents and an appropriate upbringing (Bazregarzade). Being a teenager, she acknowledged that this belief appeared to be obsolete and destructive for women in many ways.

In conclusion, it could be noted that Susan Glaspell conveys her opinion on women’s oppression throughout the whole play and the behavior of different characters. Even details, such as a name of a character or a brief dialogue, reveal her position. The author demonstrates that men’s dominance not only affects the activity of women, but also limits their traits of character, talents, bonds, and development. In addition, they impose on women such living conditions, which are impossible to live happily in and lead to multiple physiological problems and poor mental health. Thus, the author is convinced that the social oppression of women should be overcome.

Works Cited

Arcinieg, Lourdes. Home as an Activist and Feminist Stage: Women’s Performative Agency in the Drama of Susan Glaspell. In: Klein E., Mobley J. S., Stevenson J. (eds) Performing Dream Homes . Palgrave Macmillan, 2019.

Bazregarzadeh, Elmira. “Susan Glaspell’s “Trifles” in the Light of Ecofeminism.” Kata , 2019. Web.

Ben-Zvi, Linda. Susan Glaspell: Her Life and Times . Oxford University Press, 2007.

“ Trifles by Susan Glaspell, a D’moiselles Production in NYC. ” YouTube , uploaded by Concrete Timbre & D’moiselles. 2013. Web.

Feminist Connotations in Susan Glaspell’s “Trifles” Essay

Introduction, the value of women, works cited.

Susan Glaspell was an active feminist in her time, so one may read her work through this lens. The play –Trifles – has numerous feminist connotations. It is a call to reexamine the value of women in a patriarchal society; through their central role in the drama, the female characters challenge traditional notions about women’s perspective and value.

The men in the play enter the Mr. Wright’s house with a fixed mind. They take pride in their role as professionals, and use this background to analyze the murder scene (Glaspell 1043). Their rigidity explains why they did not identify Mr. Wright’s murderers. Conversely, the women entered the Wrights’ house with an open mind. They had no professional titles or legal obligations. In fact, they had come to the premises in order to collect Mrs. Wright’s personal effects.

However, these women’s way of knowing was not just different from the men’s; they had a practical way of applying it to discover something useful. While the men analyzed most of the conventional areas of crime-scene investigation, the women used their knowledge to consider Mrs. Wright’s entire marriage. They had a holistic view of the crime, yet the men only focused on one point in time.

When they stumbled upon a canary that had been strangled in the same way as Mr. Wright, they connected the dots and realized that Minnie was the murderer. Their lowly status gives them an upper hand in the investigation because they have no expectations to meet. The women’s perspective allows them to redefine themselves in readers’ perspectives. They eventually emerge as winners at the end of the play.

The society in which Trifles is set devalues women’s opinions. It is a patriarchal one that only holds men’s contributions in high regard. Such attitudes demean the way society operates.

Professionals do not function effectively because they push away matters that involve women. In the end, these biased individuals end up hurting themselves. The author wanted to challenge these thoughts by illustrating that the female perspective could solve problems or enrich lives. In essence, Susan Glaspell was using her play to engage in feminist criticism of her society.

One should note that feminist inclinations were not alien to the playwright. She was an active feminist who supported several organizations. Heterodoxy was one such entity; it consisted of 25 women. Their intention was to promote the freedom of women in all spheres of life. The author grew up in a conservative community but her exposure as a journalist awakened her to the plight of women in her society.

Not only were they landless, but they had no right to vote or participate in public discourse. The author was dissatisfied with the unequal power relations between men and women in marriage. Glaspell decided that she would use her writings to advance this cause. In fact, the disempowering relationship between men and women is evident in the deceased marriage. Mr. Wright, like a number of other men in that society, silenced his wife during their marriage.

She was a highly talented individual that could have experienced personal fulfillment if she had exploited this talent (Glaspell 1047). Her husband exerted negative control over her because he devalued her. The power relationship at the time was inclined towards men. Mr. Wright’s patriarchal attitudes could not allow his wife to have a life of her own. The writer wanted to highlight how this attitude could backfire in the form of extreme events like murder.

Perhaps one of the ways in which Susan Glaspell challenged society’s view of women was through her subject matter. ‘Trifles’ is a play about a woman who kills another human being. This subject has always been a source of fascination even for real-life investigators. When the killer is female and she kills a man, then this elicits fear in male audiences. Men react so strongly to such occurrences because they defy society’s expectations of femininity.

Society assumes that women epitomize the values of passivity and moderation. Therefore, when they vent out their frustrations on other people, through murder, then these expectations are crushed. In the play, Glaspell wanted to challenge cultural stereotypes of women. Susan wanted to erase the myth that women would always take the injustices that came their way by illustrating that women could also kill. She focused on a controversial subject so as to elicit strong reactions from her audiences.

The key characters in the play were women. They did not just participate in the play, but they drove the events in the narration. Conversely, the men in the play appear to exist merely for the purpose of proving that patriarchy has its limitations. The male characters are oblivious to women’s ability to commit crimes because they presume that passivity is feminine and action, even in the form of crime, is masculine.

This closed-mindedness impairs their ability to solve the case. The author had feminist intentions because the female characters manage to do what the men could not. Glaspell has taken on a controversial subject and shown that the patriarchal order is not the best solution.

Glaspell, Susan. “Trifles.” The Heath Anthology of American Literature . Vol D. Ed. Paul Lauter. Houghton: Mifflin, 2006. 1041-1050. Print.

Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, November 29). Feminist Connotations in Susan Glaspell’s "Trifles". https://ivypanda.com/essays/trifles-4/

"Feminist Connotations in Susan Glaspell’s "Trifles"." IvyPanda , 29 Nov. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/trifles-4/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Feminist Connotations in Susan Glaspell’s "Trifles"'. 29 November.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Feminist Connotations in Susan Glaspell’s "Trifles"." November 29, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/trifles-4/.

1. IvyPanda . "Feminist Connotations in Susan Glaspell’s "Trifles"." November 29, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/trifles-4/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Feminist Connotations in Susan Glaspell’s "Trifles"." November 29, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/trifles-4/.

Trifles by Susan Glaspell
Feminism in ‘Trifles’ by Susan Glaspell
Gender Role in the "Trifles" by Susan Glaspell
Susan Glaspell’s Biography and Historical Context in Relation to Trifles
Drama: Susan Glaspell’s Trifle’s
"Trifle" a Short Play by Susan Glaspell
Susan Glaspell’s Play “Trifles”
Mystery in “Trifles” Play by Susan Glaspell
Use of Language in Susan Glaspell’s 'Trifles'
Trifles by Susan Glaspell: Play Analysis
“A Sweet Devouring” by Eudora Welty analysis.
"Uncle Tom’s Cabin" and Slavery
Robert Frost’s Fear Poetry
Religion in American Poetry
Literary Interpretation & Critique Paper Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried

Diving Deep into ‘Trifles’: a Critical Analysis of Themes and Symbols

This essay about Susan Glaspell’s “Trifles” explores the intricate themes of gender oppression, societal norms, and justice. Set in a rural farmhouse, the play sheds light on the silent struggles of women, symbolized by Mrs. Wright’s plight. Through meticulous analysis of symbols like the kitchen and the dead canary, the essay unveils the profound layers of meaning within the narrative. It highlights the importance of empathy and emotional intelligence in understanding human experiences, challenging readers to reevaluate their perspectives on gender and power dynamics. Ultimately, “Trifles” serves as a poignant reminder of the transformative potential of compassion in the pursuit of truth and justice.

How it works

Susan Glaspell’s “Trifles” serves as a captivating canvas, painting a vivid portrait of gender dynamics, societal norms, and the often-overlooked nuances of human interaction. Within the rustic confines of a rural farmhouse, the play unfurls a tapestry of relationships and tensions, inviting readers to peer beyond the surface and into the hidden recesses of human experience. Through a meticulous examination of its themes and symbols, “Trifles” beckons us to embark on a journey of discovery, plumbing the depths of its narrative for profound insights.

At its core, “Trifles” grapples with the theme of gender oppression and the subjugation of women’s voices. Through the character of Mrs. Wright, Glaspell illuminates the suffocating weight of patriarchal expectations, relegating women to the margins of society. Mrs. Wright’s silent anguish becomes a poignant reminder of the countless women whose voices have been silenced and whose struggles have been erased by the dominant forces of patriarchy.

The stage itself becomes a battleground of symbolism, with each prop and setting choice imbued with layers of meaning. The juxtaposition of the living room and the kitchen serves as a visual metaphor for the divide between the public and private spheres, highlighting the societal expectations placed upon women to confine themselves to domestic duties. As the men scour the living room for tangible evidence, the women gravitate towards the kitchen, where they uncover the subtle clues and overlooked details that hold the key to understanding Mrs. Wright’s plight.

Central to the narrative is the motif of “trifles,” symbolizing the dismissive attitude towards women’s concerns and the tendency to overlook the significance of seemingly insignificant details. While the men scoff at the women’s preoccupation with domestic matters, they fail to recognize the deeper truths hidden within these seemingly trivial observations. Through the women’s keen insights and intuitive understanding, Glaspell challenges the notion that truth can be gleaned solely through rational inquiry, emphasizing the importance of empathy and emotional intelligence in uncovering the complexities of human experience.

Beyond its exploration of gender dynamics, “Trifles” delves into the nature of justice and the limitations of the legal system. While the men approach the investigation with a rigid adherence to logic and evidence, the women navigate the murky waters of emotion and intuition, piecing together the fragmented puzzle of Mrs. Wright’s life. In doing so, they call into question the efficacy of a justice system that fails to acknowledge the emotional realities of human existence, advocating instead for a more holistic approach rooted in empathy and understanding.

The dead canary emerges as a haunting symbol of Mrs. Wright’s stifled aspirations and the violence of her oppression. Once a source of joy and companionship, the canary’s lifeless form serves as a stark reminder of the toll that patriarchal dominance exacts upon women’s lives. While the men view the canary’s death as mere evidence, the women recognize its symbolic significance, serving as a catalyst for solidarity and empathy in the face of injustice.

In conclusion, “Trifles” stands as a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the hidden corners of human experience. Through its exploration of gender, power, and justice, the play invites readers to confront their own assumptions and biases, fostering a deeper understanding of the complexities of the human condition. In a world fraught with division and discord, “Trifles” offers a ray of hope, reminding us of the transformative potential of empathy and compassion in the pursuit of truth and justice.

Cite this page

Diving Deep into 'Trifles': A Critical Analysis of Themes and Symbols. (2024, Apr 07). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/diving-deep-into-trifles-a-critical-analysis-of-themes-and-symbols/

"Diving Deep into 'Trifles': A Critical Analysis of Themes and Symbols." PapersOwl.com , 7 Apr 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/diving-deep-into-trifles-a-critical-analysis-of-themes-and-symbols/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Diving Deep into 'Trifles': A Critical Analysis of Themes and Symbols . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/diving-deep-into-trifles-a-critical-analysis-of-themes-and-symbols/ [Accessed: 25 Apr. 2024]

"Diving Deep into 'Trifles': A Critical Analysis of Themes and Symbols." PapersOwl.com, Apr 07, 2024. Accessed April 25, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/diving-deep-into-trifles-a-critical-analysis-of-themes-and-symbols/

"Diving Deep into 'Trifles': A Critical Analysis of Themes and Symbols," PapersOwl.com , 07-Apr-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/diving-deep-into-trifles-a-critical-analysis-of-themes-and-symbols/. [Accessed: 25-Apr-2024]

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs.

Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+!

Please check your inbox.

You can order an original essay written according to your instructions.

Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

Trifles Feminist Analysis Essay

In the play, “Trifles,” Susan Glaspell demonstrates the inequality that occurs between men and women during the 20th century. From the opening scene, the two women are not given much attention unlike the men, until they are separated from them and become the main characters. Although the women are seen as inferior to men, they prove that they are much more capable as they are the ones who solve the case by thinking outside the box. They find the real motive behind Mrs. Wright’s action and are able to understand her doing because of the way women were treated back then. Even though both women decide to defend Mrs. Wright by hiding the evidence, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters sympathize with her, but for different reasons.

Since the very beginning of the play, you can easily tell that the women do not hold the same authority as the men. The men immediately walk into Mr. Wright’s residence and make their way towards the stove to warm themselves up, while the women stand close together by the door. Even though the weather dropped below zero, the women insist they are not cold. It is through the body language of the women that we can recognize their inferiority. Even though it is not their home, the sheriff, county attorney and neighbor make themselves at home because they feel like they have power to do what they want, possibly because they are the ones whom are carrying the official investigation of Mr. Wright’s death. The women on the other hand just went for company, though they make their own observations of the case.

Once Lewis Hale finishes discussing what he saw after finding out about Mr. Wright’s death, all three men go to the bedroom where the crime took place. They passed over all the evidence that was displayed in the kitchen because they just thought of it as “nothing but kitchen things (776).” Women are known as the ones to maintain their homes, especially the kitchen since it is the place where women cook, make phone calls, and do their obligations. By overlooking the kitchen things, the men are dismissing all the hard work that women do every day.

They probably thought to themselves, “What use could these women things be to us?” Then again, men do not have the same way of thinking like women do because they dismiss all the trifles that women worry about. All they care about in looking for are the weapons used to commit the crime, rather than figuring out the motive of the crime. It is definitely ironic how it is in the kitchen itself where the women find the evidence, and it is the one place that the men overlook to search. We would have expected the men to find the evidence because they consider themselves superior, and perhaps more intellectual, but it is the women whom find it because of their attention to the little things.

Once the women are left alone in the kitchen, they begin to form a female to female bond. But before the investigation, the two women were never considered close friends. Mrs. Hale knew Minnie for many years and even grew up in the same area, while Mrs. Peters was a new friendly face. Luckily, it is in the process of solving the crime case that the two women unite, primarily because of their gender. Because they are both females, they are able to relate to one another somehow and can comprehend the troubles that Mrs. Wright had. By trying to understand and investigate Minnie’s motives, the two women form a friendship. We can see the bond between the two women when Mrs. Hale waits until the men are gone to discuss how she feels regarding the way that the men downgrade women in their ability in doing things. By waiting until the men are gone, Mrs. Hale is demonstrating her full trust towards Mrs. Peters.

As Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters become the two main characters during their investigation, Mrs. Hale recalls the good times of Mrs. Wright’s life. There was once a time when she was known as Minnie Foster. Minnie “used to wear pretty clothes and be lively-singing in the choir (778).” Before marriage, Minnie was an upbeat girl who took part in her community, but now, she does not even take part of the Ladies Aid. Unfortunately, once she committed to a marriage with Mr. Wright, Minnie changed her way of being, and it was not a good change for her persona. Her house was disheveled with unwashed things and she was not properly kept herself which shows to prove that she is not the lively girl she once was. She became a more reserved woman and seemed to not care about anything, though she was trying her best to survive by keeping busying with her quilt.

By this point, both women think about whether Minnie could have killed her husband, especially since she was living a miserable life with him. Could this have caused Mrs. Wright to kill her husband? After finding out from Mr. Henderson that there must have been some motive to cause the murder, Mrs. Hale begins to think of the possible motives. She begins to look around the kitchen for any evidence, and she successfully finds a piece of evidence as she puts her hand on the dish towel which lies on the table. She notices that “one half is clean, the other half messy” (779). Usually when people clean, they clean the entire area unless something comes up like an unexpected phone call or something more serious. For this reason, a half cleaned table is an evidence towards the case because something must have suddenly occurred to have caused Mrs. Wright to instantly stop what she is doing.

The next piece of evidence that the women find is the quilt that Mrs. Wright was sewing. As the women wonder if she was going to quilt it or knot it, the men over hear and criticize by laughing. This just shows to prove that the men think they are better than them. While the men spend their time criticizing, rather than finding clues, Mrs. Hale gets moving. She continues to try to look for any indications that could be the motive of Mr. Wright’s death. She notices that something is not right about the quilt as she takes a closer look at another block. By carefully examining the quilt that Mrs. Wright was sewing, she takes note that the quilt is “nice and even (780)” and then it just becomes all messy. That for sure would catch my attention. I mean, who would sew something so nice and take their time on it to eventually destroy it by making it all messy? Something must have definitely triggered Mrs. Wright to sew her quilt in an angrily way.

These two ladies begin to realize that there is a high likely chance that Mrs. Wright committed the crime of killing her husband, but are not so sure. What they know for sure is that Mrs. Wright must have been nervous about something to cause her to sew “all over the place” (780). Although Mrs. Peter does not yet know what Mrs. Hale is up to, Mrs. Hale attempts to undo the crime by immediately beginning to pull out the knot and rip the bad stitching to hide the evidence of the messy sewing. While Mrs. Peters is there to unknowingly help, Mrs. Hale further helps Mrs. Wright out of the crime by cleaning up her mess and making the sewing nice and neat again. By redoing the stitches, they are destroying a great piece of evidence that links Mrs. Wright’s motive to the death. But as Mrs. Peters goes to find the material to sew, a bird cage is revealed.

This birdcage may not be much evidence as of now because they do not know for sure if Mrs. Wright had a bird or not, but they see that the hinge is broken. Someone or something must have been rough with it to have pulled it apart. This someone could have been Mr. Wright as he was always seen as a tough man. As they suspect that Mr. Wright had something to do with the birdcage, both women agree that they do not like being in The Wright’s residence, primarily because Mrs. Hale never felt comfortable. Even though Mrs. Hale was their neighbor, she always avoided visiting for many reasons.

For starters, she never felt welcomed into The Wright’s Residence by Mr. Wright. It always felt lonesome and not very cheerful when she would infrequently visit. Mrs. Hale begins to feel guilty for not visiting Minnie more often. If Mrs. Hale had visited her, Minnie probably would not feel so depressed and lonely, especially since the house was silent as she never had any children. Minnie could have had Mrs. Hale as a female companion to talk about her life situations instead of just having to go through the misery of living with Mr. Wright every day. Because of this, Mrs. Hale feels guilty because she knows the struggles that Minnie went through, and she could have stopped her from having a mental breakdown.

As the two women continue looking around, they discover the most unexpected thing. They find a dead canary. That birdcage they had found must have belonged to the dead bird. Since Mr. Wright was probably the one who broke the hinge, he probably also “broke” the bird by wringing its neck. To the women’s surprise, both the bird and Mr. Wright died in the same way, with its neck wringed. The women start to put the puzzle pieces together and come to realize that it was Mrs. Wright whom killed Mr. Wright. Mr. Wright perhaps got annoyed with all the noise that the bird was creating, and just snapped its neck.

Just how like the bird’s neck was snapped, Mrs. Wright herself snapped at that moment too. She had enough with everything she put up with, and reached her limit when Mr. Wright killed her bird. Mrs. Wright knew at that moment that she had to do something about it. Both women understood the motive for killing Mr. Wright and make the decision to hide the last and most important piece of evidence from the men. Although Mrs. Peters thinks that the law is the law and that they should give any evidence to the men, her opinion changes as the play progresses. She goes along with Mrs. Hale to hide the evidence when she mentions to the men that the cat must have eaten the bird.

We get a hint as to why Mrs. Peters eventually decides to defend the poor Mrs. Wright. She tells us a story from her childhood on how her kitten was killed. “There was a boy who took a hatchet, and before my eyes- and before I could get there- (782).” Because Mrs. Peters’ cat was killed, she finds that she is able to empathize to Mrs. Wright emotionally. The pet animals of both Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Wright were taken away from them tragically. Just how like Mrs. Peters cat was important to her, the bird was of great importance to Mrs. Wright too. Mrs. Peters can relate to Mrs. Wright because she felt like she had to hurt the boy and revenge on him for killing her cat, except in this case, Mrs. Wright actually did decide to take matters into her own hands. For this reason, Mrs. Peters defends Mrs. Wright on her actions because she knows how it feels to want to get back at someone for killing a loved pet.

While Mrs. Peters recalls her childhood memories with her cat, Mrs. Hale continues to go back and forth on how she still wishes she would have visited Minnie more often. She regrets making excuses for not visiting because she could have if she had just not paid mind to the bad aspects of visiting The Wright’s residence. If she had come to visit once in a while, she would have realized that Minnie needed some help. Minnie was suffering within her own home; the one place where people should feel most comfortable at. Mrs. Hale believes that she could have saved her from committing the crime of killing Mr. Wright, a man. Killing is one big crime, but killing a man is even worse because of their authority in society at the time. Although the two ladies had different reasoning’s in defending Mrs. Wright, they both joined in together to help her because they knew that her punishment was not going to be anything easy.

By the end of the play, the readers have an understanding as to why both women decide to conceal evidence, even if it is illegal to do so. Both women took a risk in getting caught to help the poor Minnie Wright. I know for sure that I would never put myself at risk just to help another friend, especially if I did not have anything to do with the crime. In defense, both women help Mrs. Wright because they can relate to her. Their reasoning’s go beyond that though. For Mrs. Hale, she primarily helps get Mrs. Wright out of this situation because she feels guilt. She feels guilty for not visiting because she thinks she could have prevented this situation from even occurring. While on the other hand, Mrs. Hale decides to help Mrs. Wright because she can empathize with her on what happened to her bird. In the end, both women’s feelings play a role in deciding to defend Mrs. Wright by hiding the evidence.

More Essays

Trifles: A Gender Play
Trifles Essay
A Jury Of Her Peers Critical Analysis Essay
The Foil of an Investigation
Trifles By Susan Glaspell Analysis Essay
Similarities Between A Dolls House And Trifles Essay
The Wife Of Bath Feminist Analysis Essay
Video Games Feminist Analysis Essay
Wizard Of Oz Feminist Analysis Essay
Essay about Gender Role In Feminist Criminology

Susan Glaspell

Ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

We're Hiring!
Help Center

Feminist Analysis Trifles Feminist criticism Sara Abu Khalaf - Academia

Related Papers

Basaad Mhyyal

Susan Glaspell (1876-1948) was one of the pioneering American female playwrights who evolved into visibility at the end of the 19 th century and the beginning of the twentieth. She had celebrated in her personal and literary life the advent of the new woman striving to fulfill her dreams in a hostile and intensive world. Glaspell based her first dramatic play, Trifles, on an actual murder case she covered while working as a journalist.

Journal of Education and Science( U of Mosul)

Hasan M . Saleh

This paper is a feminist approach to Susan Glaspell's Trifles. It handles the marital discordance which results in misanthropy. Mrs. Wright in this play is a woman who falls victim to the suppression and marginalization of her husband, Mr. Wright. The hard-hearted husband destroys her human feelings out of neglect, a matter that ends in killing her husband. The subject is presented from a purely feminine perspective in that Mrs. Wright's character is fully revealed through the female characters' reactions. In fact, Trifles creates the impression that Glaspell is in full advocacy of women's right to reach self-fulfillment away from any form of social dictations. Matrimonial relationships must be compatible in order to enjoy a rather entertaining and continuous repose of mind.

Samia Kohen

This essay uses theories of narrative to examine how Susan Glaspell's Trifles and Sharon Pollock's Blood Relations reflect and resist the ability of narratives to construct identities, create moral meanings, and impose truths. It also explores the dramatisation of experiential knowledge as a means of building communities. Blood Relations' meta-theatrical self-consciousness, resistance to moral meaning through a refusal of narrative closure, and ambivalence towards the representative nature of personal experiences, in contrast to Trifles' naturalism, narrative conclusion, and confidence in the assumption of shared women's experiences reflect changes in feminisms, theoretical understandings of experiential knowledge, and strategies for the stage representation of women. L'essai fait appel aux théories de la narration pour examiner comment Trifles (Susan Glaspell) et Blood Relations (Sharon Pollock) correspondent aux capacités de la narration et y résistent à la fois en vue de construire des identités, créer des sens moraux et imposer des vérités. Il examine également la dramatisation de la connaissance expérientielle comme moyen de construction des communautés. La conscience de soi méta théâtrale faisant partie de Blood Relations, la résistance à la signification morale par le refus d'une fermeture sur le plan narratif et l'ambivalence à l'égard de l'aspect représentatif des expériences personnelles contrastent avec le naturalisme que propose Trifles, sa conclusion narrative et la confiance en la supposition voulant que les expériences partagées par les femmes correspondent aux changements du féminisme, aux compréhensions théoriques de la connaissance expérientielle et aux stratégies de représentation sur scène de la femme.

Lungguh Ariang Bangga

Mohammad-Javad Haj'jari , Noorbakhsh Hooti

Derrida defines artifactualities as artificially made norms by institutions and hierarchies which turn into conventions over time in dominating mankind, conventions which must be recognized and dismantled. Every particular event or presence can assume its singularity outside such biased tautology by iterating itself to generate its own specific body of norms in supplementing itself. Accordingly, this study tries to highlight the female logic and the iterability of the woman condition against patriarchal artifactualities in Glaspell’s Trifles (1916). The women of the play illuminate a world invisible to patriarchy, an overlooking gaze blurred by artifactualities. Dismantling the binary opposition of male/female, the play highlights the singularity of females in discussing the truth of its events. Moreover, the women’s aporetic decision in the play not to reveal Minnie’s killing motive is an attempt to defend the female cause and highlight the iterability of the woman condition against patriarchy. Thus, the researchers aim at interpreting Trifles through a Derridean perspective to dig up and open up the stifled woman question against patriarchal artifactualities. Contrasting the collective female knowledge to logocentrism, this study illuminates Glaspell’s attempt at foregrounding the unique sphere of women’s knowledge over patriarchal artifactualities. Glaspell anticipates Derrida’s remarks in turning logocentrism and artifactualities over their heads in favor of the singularity of any phenomena which can iterates itself to proof its unique position outside artifactialities.

mia agustina

As literature serves many functions, it can accelerate understanding in society. Moreover, character and characterization as the intrinsic elements hold a very crucial part to build tolerance in the society. Through several characteristics of character and characterization, we get knowledge that others need to be understood. This is what the students of English Literature in prose course learn. By reading Susan Glaspell's Trifles, they know how to characterize others. They also learn not to be easy to judge people through the discussion after reading the drama. Hence, this paper tries to figure out how character and characterization can create better understanding by using Trifles written by Susan Glaspell.

Celma António

Susan Glaspell's Trifles, written in 1916, charts the attempts of a county attorney and sheriff, visiting a remote farmhouse, to discern the motive for a woman's murder of her husband. It is not, however, a traditional detective story. Moreover, it is clear from the beginning that the representatives of the law will not find the answers to their questions where (and how) they are looking. Accompanying the two men (and a neighboring farmer) are their wives, and Glaspell shapes the play around the subtle realizations which occur as the women tidy up the " kitchen things " of Mrs. Wright (Glaspell 1052). While the men stumble obtusely around in the dark looking for clues, the women uncover the psychology of an event that seems at first beyond reason but teasingly reveals a domestic drama of passion, cruelty, and revenge. The murder at the heart of the play—the strangulation of Mr. Wright while his wife is in bed beside him—occurs before the play begins. We hear of it from the neighboring farmer, Mr. Hale, when he recounts the odd passivity of Mrs. Wright rocking in her chair and pleating an apron while she told how her husband died in the night " of a rope round his neck " (Glaspell 1052). The audience assumes that Mrs. Wright murdered her husband. The officers of the law search diligently for something to establish motive, the only drawback in an otherwise easy case, but fail. Their wives, however, while attending to the domestic things, stitch together a psychological narrative that suggests the whole. They find at 293

Mary M Stein

A study of women's rights in early 20th century America from legal, societal, and cultural perspectives based on how these issues are presented in two of the creative works of Susan Glaspell.

Dokter Ryan

Jual Obat Aborsi Whatsapp http://bit.ly/2MlzFZs Obat penggugur kandungan usia 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 bulan 🆔0822-2531-2225 ✅ https://www.klinikaborsipenggugurkandungan.com/ | ✅http://aborsimanjur.com/ Obat Aborsi Cytotec Asli misoprostol 400mcg adalah obat yang berguna sebagai penggugur kandungan untuk usia kehamilan 1 bulan 2 bulan 3 bulan 4 bulan 5 bulan 6 bulan dan 7 bulan, obat aborsi cytotec ini sudah terbukti ampuh untuk menggugurkan kandungan (janin) dengan cepat, aman 100% dijamin tuntas. Obat Aborsi Ampuh Dan Cytotec Asli Anda mengunjungi situs kami apotikterdekat.com pasti memiliki tujuan untuk membeli produk kami yaitu Cytotec misoprostol, Anda sangat benar kami menjual obat cytotec misoprostol asli yang berguna untuk menggugurkan kandungan dengan cepat. Obat cytotec merupakan obat aborsi yang sangat ampuh untuk menggugurkan kandungan kuat, obat cytotec asli mampu menggugurkan janin dalam jangka 24 jam janin anda akan gugur meskipun itu kandungan yang kuat. Bagi Anda yang ingin menggugurkan kandungan kami sarankan untuk menggunakan obat cytotec asli yang benar-benar ampuh untuk menggugurkan kandungan anda secara cepat dan tuntas. Sebab dan Akibat Menggunakan Obat Aborsi Palsu.? Pasti sebagian orang belum tau mengenai Cytotec.? Cytotec merupakan Obat penggugur kandungan kemasan botol dosis 400 mcg yang dipakai untuk cara menggugurkan kehamilan. Karena itu , Saya Sarankan jika membeli obat pelancar haid di website terpercaya seperti terdaftar di bawah ini. Cytotec.co.id DokterRyan.com ApotikAmpuh.com Obat Aborsi Ampuh Dan Cytotec Asli Setelah berhasil dengan penelitian nya tersebut Prof. Dr. Jebor Benuan bersama-sama dokter kandungan di seluruh Amerika telah resmi untuk menggunakan obat cytotec sebagai obat penggugur kandungan. Setelah itu dengan kesepakatan obat cytotec pembuatan nya di beli oleh Pfizer perusahaan dalam bidang kesehatan. Cytotec tablet 400mcg merupakan produk yang diperdagangkan oleh Misoprostol dan izin edar obat cytotec ini sudah mendapatkan izin edar dari FDA (Badan Pengawasan Obat dan Makanan) di Amerika. Obat cytotec misoprostol merupakan obat yang digunakan oleh dokter di amerika untuk menggugurkan kandungan pasien nya, dan efek keberhasilan obat aborsi cytotec ini memiliki tingkat keberhasilan mencapai 99%, dari itu Dokter di Amerika menyarankan untuk menggunakan cytotec misoprostol ini untuk dikonsumsi untuk wanita yang hamil, dan ingin melakukan aborsi. Selanjutnya, Jika Anda merasa binggung cara menggunakan cytotec agar 100% berhasil, Anda akan kami bantu semaksimal mungkin. Obat Aborsi Ampuh Dan Cytotec Asli Alasan Kenapa Wanita Ingin Melakukan Aborsi..? alasan wanita melakukan aborsi Tindakan aborsi dilakukan oleh yang sedang hamil dan ingin menggugurkan kandungan nya, baik itu wanita yang sudah menikah atau belum menikah dan Inilah beberapa alasan perempuan yang melakukan aborsi. Terlalu banyak anak 90% Gagal nya alat kontrasepsi 85% Alasan keuangan 80% Janin cacat 70% Anak masih kecil 75% Hamil di umur yang terlalu tua 65% Kehamilan karena pemerkosaan 64% Mementingkan karir 75% Masih sekolah 80% Sebelum Anda ingin melakukan Aborsi Janin, Kami sarankan untuk berpikir ulang terlebih dahulu, atau anda bisa membicarakan kepada pasangan Anda atau Saudara terdekat Anda. kalau anda benar-benar sudah yakin, Kami akan menjual obat cytotec ini kepada anda. Obat Aborsi Ampuh Dan Cytotec Asli Kami menjual obat aborsi ini bertujuan untuk membantu anda, tolong setelah aborsi anda berhasil, jangan mengulangi aborsi kembali. Efek Samping Penggunaan Cytotec Misoprostol : Cytotec sangat aman tanpa efek samping apabila anda mengikuti aturan minum yang kami berikan. Karena Kami telah bekerja sama dengan ahli kedokteran, kesehatan, kebidanan di Indonesia, dari sekian banyak pasien telah banyak kami tangani dan hasilnya tuntas dan aman. JANGKAUAN PEMESANAN KE SELURUH INDONESIA DAN LUAR NEGERI CARA MELAKUKAN ABORSI YANG AMAN ??? Obat Penggugur Kandungan ( Aborsi ) Cytotec Misoprostol sangat aman dan efektif, dan anda dapat membeli obat cytotec misoprostol yang di rekomendasikan oleh FDA sebagai obat yang aman bagi kaum wanita yang ingin mengakhiri kehamilanya. SEBENARNYA OBAT ABORSI CYTOTEC ITU APA ??? Cytotec Misoprostol Adalah Obat Penggugur Kandungan yang di produksi asli oleh Pfizer USA yang telah di setujui FDA america, dan penjualan obat aborsi cytotec asli ini tidak diizinkan di beberapa negara dengan hukum ketat, dan di Indonesia di perlukan resep untuk mendapatkan obat cytotec misoprostol 400Mcg. ( meskipun bagi kita tidak di perlukan resep untuk membeli Obat Penggugur Kandungan cytotec misopprostol 400Mcg. Hubungi saja hotline kami ). * PERHATIAN KAMI TIDAK MENERIMA COD ATAU KETEMUAN * CARI AGEN DI LUAR JAWA ! jawa barat, jawa tengah, jawa timur, bali, kalimantan barat, kalimantan selatan, kalimantan selatan, kalimantan timur, sulawesi tengah, sulawesi selatan, sulawesi tenggara, sulawesi utara, sulawesi barat, gorontalo, maluku, maluku utara, nusa tenggara barat, nusa tenggara timur, papua, aceh, sumatra, riau, jambi, bangka belitung, bengkulu, lampung, jakarta, banten, jayapura, manokwari, ternate, ambon, makassar, kendari, palu, mamuju, manado, tanjung selor, samarinda, banjarmasin, palangkaraya, pontianak, kupang, mataram, denpasar, surabaya, yogyakarta, semarang, serang, bandung, bandar lampung, pangkal pinang, palembang, jambi, tanjung pinang, pekan baru, medan, padang, banda aceh, sofifi, se asia, internasional, surabaya, bandung, cirebon, tanggerang, bekasi. Jawa Barat Meliputi : Bandung, Banjar, Bekasi, Bogor, Ciamis, Cianjur, Cibinong, Cikarang, Cimahi, Cirebon, Jakarta, Garut, Indramayu, Karawang, Kuningan, Majalengka, Ngamprah / Cimareme, Purkawarka, Pelabuhan Ratu, Singaparna, Soreang, Subang, Sukabumi, Sumber, Sumedang, Tasikmalaya, Majalaya, Jatilangor, Lembang, Rancaekek, Jatibarang, Kadipaten, Losari, Palimanan, Jatiwangi. Kabupaten Ciamis, Cianjur, Bogor, Bekasi, Garut, Indramayu, Karawang, Kuningan, Majalengka, Bandung Barat, Purwakarta, Sukabumi, Tasikmalaya, Bandung, Subang, Cirebon, Sumedang CARI AGEN DI LUAR NEGRI ! Malaysia, Korea, Hongkong, Singapure, Tokyo, Jepang, Taiwan. ( Datang, Antar Luar Kota Dan Luar Negri Via Paket ). “PASTIKAN, ANDA ABORSI HANYA CUKUP SATU KALI INI SAJA… DAN PASTIKAN HANYA DITEMPAT KAMI, SEPERTI ANJURAN PEMERINTAH .”

Markus Talvio

The aim was to apply Engaging Learning Environment (ELE) model for training insurance managers in supporting their employees’ job engagement and well-being. The effects of ELE intervention on the managers were examined by using a questionnaire administered before and after the training. In the present study, we focused on interest, mindset and epistemological change. Participants were managers participating in intervention (ELE group, n=23) and two comparison groups in which managers were randomized in those who had access to the e-learning part only (ELE-E group, n=43) and in those who did not participate in any training (control group, n=42). The statistical differences of the pre- and post-test scores were examined with a repeated-measures MANOVA. Among ELE group, reactions towards training were very positive. In ELE group, the interest value increased significantly between pre- and post-test. Conceptual change also took place: ELE group increased in growth mindset, practical val...

Exploring Feminist Themes in Susan Glaspell's Trifles

Category: Literature , Social Issues
Topic: Drama , Feminism , Trifles

Pages: 3 (1164 words)

Downloads: -->

--> ⚠️ Remember: This essay was written and uploaded by an--> click here.

Found a great essay sample but want a unique one?

are ready to help you with your essay

You won’t be charged yet!

The Yellow Wallpaper Essays

Beowulf Essays

Frankenstein Essays

Lord of The Flies Essays

Fahrenheit 451 Essays

Related Essays

We are glad that you like it, but you cannot copy from our website. Just insert your email and this sample will be sent to you.

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Your essay sample has been sent.

In fact, there is a way to get an original essay! Turn to our writers and order a plagiarism-free paper.

samplius.com uses cookies to offer you the best service possible.By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .--> -->

Feminism in Trifles by Susan Glaspell

Cite this Essay

Related Essays

Still can’t find what you need?

Related Essays on Trifles

Related Topics

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

Feminism in the Play “Trifles” by Susan Glaspell

Historical Background

Women and Social Oppression

Works Cited

Feminist Connotations in Susan Glaspell’s “Trifles” Essay

Diving Deep into ‘Trifles’: a Critical Analysis of Themes and Symbols

Cite this page

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Trifles Feminist Analysis Essay

More Essays

Susan Glaspell

Feminist Analysis Trifles Feminist criticism Sara Abu Khalaf - Academia

Related Papers

RELATED PAPERS

Exploring Feminist Themes in Susan Glaspell's Trifles

Related Essays