The Trifles is a play was written in 1916 by Susan Glaspell; it gives insights into the role of the women in the society during this period. The play can be described as feminist in that it fights against the depiction of women as brainless housewives (Bressler 183). The play takes place in Mr. Wright’s untidy house after his murder and his wife’s incarceration for his death. There are five characters in the play, three of them are males, and two of them are females. Mrs. Hale is Mr. Wright 's neighbor; and his wife is also present. The Sheriff, is who accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Peters. The last character is the County Attorney. However, Holsteins contends that both men and women in attendance approach the case differently. …show more content…
Wright as she is mentioned in absentia. Some of these symbols include the Canary, containers of cherry preserves, bird cage, rocker, preserves, stove, pots and pans, and towel. The first symbol that comes out clearly is the Canary; and it’s a symbol of the Mrs. Wright’s past. The bird in the Canary represents Mrs. Wright’s characteristics and personality. Mrs. Hale describes Mrs. Wrights as a bird really sweet and pretty but adds that the bird was timid and fluttery. The death of the bird in the Canary gives insights on why. The bird cage is a symbol that describes Mrs. Wright 's marriage life that was devoid of freedom as it depicts her in an unhappy house. Additionally, the symbol of guilt, as used in the novel, symbolizes the death of Mr. Wright hence it serves as a clue to the death. Another symbol evident in the play is the rocking chair; and it is symbolic of Mrs. Wright’s life throughout the recent past as it has been diminishing. The containers of cherry preserves in the play are the symbols of Mrs. Wright’s entrapped life as her life is compared with products in preserves. The dirty towels are the symbols of Mrs. Wright’s disinterest in caring for the house. It also points that she was too busy planning for her husband’s murder to care for the house. The theme of oppression is evident in the play by Trifles. First, it is represented by the symbol of the birdcage and the bird. The women in the play thoroughly investigate the birdcage that they found in the kitchen. Upon their investigation, they found it to be broken and the bird is missing and on further investigation they found the bird but it was strangled. It is at this juncture that Mrs. Hale describes Mrs. Wright as akin to the bird: sweet and pretty and her inability to get out of her cage is because of timid hence the broken cage shows how she finally found courage to end her