Trifles by Susan Glaspell

Trifles by Susan Glaspell

Introduction

Trifles is a short play that has been inspired by Susan’s observations and experiences in her earlier life. This is a psychological play whose themes are focused on men and women, as well as their psychological states in their social roles. The topic Trifles refers to objects of little value, which is sensible considering the items that women (Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters) come across. The author has illustrated the theme of trivializing women by comparing them to the items they come across during the investigation. Men fail to understand the importance of women in the scenario in that they are considered trifles. The men portray the sense of self-importance by presenting themselves as serious-minded and tough individuals while the women are portrayed as trifles when, in the real sense, they are the observant ones in the investigation.

Summary

The local attorney George Henderson. Sheriff Peters Henry and Lewis Hale enter Mr. Wright’s farmhouse to investigate John’s murder. Minnie, John’s wife, is the prime suspect in the murder case. Peters and Hale have brought their wives, Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale to collect Minnie’s a few of Minnie’s personal effects to bring her in jail. After searching the house unsuccessfully for evidence against Minnie, they leave the two women to do their search. Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale search the kitchen, which was overlooked by the men. During this search, the women come across a broken birdcage and a canary (dead) that is wrapped in silk. This observation was speculated that John’s action to kill the bird caused her wife to snap, thus taking the unexpected action on him. Mrs. Hale. And Mrs. Peters hide the evidence as an act of compassion towards Mrs. Wright after realizing that her husband was abusive towards her (988). The two men women stole the box with the dead bird as an act of loyalty to the feminine gender and to defy the patriarchal society that was callous and inconsiderate of women.

Mrs. Wright stated that she was asleep when her husband was strangled by a stranger. The male characters were certain that Minnie had killed her husband, which caused her to get arrested as a prime suspect.

After the sheriff and attorney decide that there is nothing of importance in the room, they climb upstairs to analyze the crime scene. The women who are left in the kitchen find various details that are considered trivial by men, including a poorly done quilt, empty birdcage, messy tabletop, fruit preserves, and the bread that is out of the box. While the men are searching for forensic evidence, the women are keen to observe clues that could reveal more about Minnie’s emotional circumstances (989). Through their discussion, the women reveal a psychological profile of a sad and desperate woman through their conversations and the items that were collected.

The author has assumed a femininity superiority above the masculinity roles in the play. She has provided the main character roles to Mrs. Hale, Mrs. Peter, and Mrs. Wright. Glaspell as assumed the assumed nature of women’s superiority and why what men consider trivial is actually quite important.

Mrs. Wright is explained as a sad individual who was very cheerful before she got married to John Wright. She loved to sing and was more colorful; “she was kind of like a bird herself – really sweet and pretty, but kind of timid and fluttery.” The author has symbolized her to the bird whose neck was wrung by John Wright – it was in search of freedom and happiness (987). All the attributes she possessed in her youth diminished after her wedding day.

Mrs. Peter is the one responsible for bringing back clothes for Mrs. Wright. She relates to Mrs. Wright’s situation since she also understands the aspect of stillness. Having lost her child at two, she understands what it feels like to lose a close person.

Mrs. Hale avoided visiting the place since she felt that it had a cheerless atmosphere. However, she felt guilty for not visiting and believes that she would have played an important role in improving her life.

The author has adopted the use of a little box with a dead canary wrapped in silk to portray the wife’s desire for happiness and freedom. The canary has a wrung neck, which implies that Minnie’s husband was not pleased by the canary’s rhythmic songs. The frustration by the bird’s constant cry for freedom and happiness caused Mr. Wright to bust the cage door stifling the bird to death. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters’s desire to give their friend freedom, an aspect that causes them to hide the bird in the coat pocket and resolve not to inform the men about their discoveries. As the women exit the kitchen, they announce that they have managed to determine the quilt making style adopted by Mrs. Wright. The women state that Minnie “knots it” rather than “quilts it” in a bid to play with the words to portray how the woman killed her husband. Mrs. Hale stated “we call it – knot it, Mr. Henderson (990)”

References

Glaspell, Susan. “Trifles: A Play in One Act.” Los Angeles, CA: Baker’s Plays, 2010. Print.