Trifles: Though They Be But Little, They Are Fierce
Nebraska during the early 1900s was a little dull. Although the country folks sometimes had fancy things like a party phone for example, life was usually calm and quiet. Gender roles were defined in this time too. On a farm, men typically took care of the crops and any livestock while the women ruled over domestic chores. The women took care of the kitchen, bedroom, and other rooms. Life was difficult and tiring for many, regardless of their gender. For the women that regretted their marriages, no divorce was available or allowed so they were usually stuck in their relationships. Susan Glaspell, a strong feminist, depicts some of these relationships in her plays and short stories. Some of …show more content…
The women, subconsciously, react to this and start to defend all women. Stage directions like “[The women draw nearer]” show that the two women find themselves bonding together to oppose the rudeness of the men. Mrs. Peters, who expresses that Mrs. Wright was worried about her fruit, is quickly taunted when the sheriff replies “Well can you beat the women! Held for murder and worryin’ about her preserves.” (Trifles 3). The men easily pass over these small details, the ‘trifles’ of Mrs. Wright’s life as the title of the play suggests, and in this, they pass over the motive as well. The women do not search for the motive, in fact they “characterize their activity in the house as relatively unimportant” (Holstein 1), yet they are the ones who end up solving the story. Again, the women move in closer after Lewis Hale adds “Well, women are used to worrying over trifles.” (Trifles 3). The county attorney acts like an ally of women when he declares “And yet, for all their worries, what would we do without the ladies?” (Trifles 3). But in spite of this statement, “(the women do not unbend)” (Trifles 3) because they can discern that George Henderson does not mean this truly, instead he expresses this to say that women are needed, but for seemingly smaller and less significant tasks. When the men continue to state …show more content…
The women are left downstairs alone, where they notice the small details of Mrs. Wright’s life. Mrs. Hale eyes the loaf of bread on the table and the jars of fruit, which are both symbols of Mrs. Wright’s daily work. She begins to empathize, mumbling that “She’ll feel awful bad after all her hard work in the hot weather. I remember the afternoon I put up my cherries last summer.” (Trifles 5). They feel guilty for coming into her house and Mrs. Hale states “it seems kind of sneaking. Locking her up in town and then coming out here and trying to get her own house to turn against her!” (Trifles 6). They recall that “she didn’t even belong to the Ladies Aid” (Trifles 5) and probably was very lonely. The two wives also discover that Mrs. Wright was making a quilt and notice that the log cabin pattern is suddenly messed up and not as neat as before. Mrs. Hale rips the sewing and sympathetically fixes a few stitches. In looking for a piece of paper and string, they come across a bird cage. Mrs. Hale examines the cage and says “Why, look at this door. It’s broke. One hinge is pulled apart.” (Trifles 8). The cage could represent entrapment, with the hostage desperately wanting to be out and free. After this, the dialogue between the two women depicts a deep realization: “MRS. PETERS: But I'm awful glad you came with me, Mrs. Hale. It would be lonesome for me sitting here
Nebraska during the early 1900s was a little dull. Although the country folks sometimes had fancy things like a party phone for example, life was usually calm and quiet. Gender roles were defined in this time too. On a farm, men typically took care of the crops and any livestock while the women ruled over domestic chores. The women took care of the kitchen, bedroom, and other rooms. Life was difficult and tiring for many, regardless of their gender. For the women that regretted their marriages, no divorce was available or allowed so they were usually stuck in their relationships. Susan Glaspell, a strong feminist, depicts some of these relationships in her plays and short stories. Some of …show more content…
The women, subconsciously, react to this and start to defend all women. Stage directions like “[The women draw nearer]” show that the two women find themselves bonding together to oppose the rudeness of the men. Mrs. Peters, who expresses that Mrs. Wright was worried about her fruit, is quickly taunted when the sheriff replies “Well can you beat the women! Held for murder and worryin’ about her preserves.” (Trifles 3). The men easily pass over these small details, the ‘trifles’ of Mrs. Wright’s life as the title of the play suggests, and in this, they pass over the motive as well. The women do not search for the motive, in fact they “characterize their activity in the house as relatively unimportant” (Holstein 1), yet they are the ones who end up solving the story. Again, the women move in closer after Lewis Hale adds “Well, women are used to worrying over trifles.” (Trifles 3). The county attorney acts like an ally of women when he declares “And yet, for all their worries, what would we do without the ladies?” (Trifles 3). But in spite of this statement, “(the women do not unbend)” (Trifles 3) because they can discern that George Henderson does not mean this truly, instead he expresses this to say that women are needed, but for seemingly smaller and less significant tasks. When the men continue to state …show more content…
The women are left downstairs alone, where they notice the small details of Mrs. Wright’s life. Mrs. Hale eyes the loaf of bread on the table and the jars of fruit, which are both symbols of Mrs. Wright’s daily work. She begins to empathize, mumbling that “She’ll feel awful bad after all her hard work in the hot weather. I remember the afternoon I put up my cherries last summer.” (Trifles 5). They feel guilty for coming into her house and Mrs. Hale states “it seems kind of sneaking. Locking her up in town and then coming out here and trying to get her own house to turn against her!” (Trifles 6). They recall that “she didn’t even belong to the Ladies Aid” (Trifles 5) and probably was very lonely. The two wives also discover that Mrs. Wright was making a quilt and notice that the log cabin pattern is suddenly messed up and not as neat as before. Mrs. Hale rips the sewing and sympathetically fixes a few stitches. In looking for a piece of paper and string, they come across a bird cage. Mrs. Hale examines the cage and says “Why, look at this door. It’s broke. One hinge is pulled apart.” (Trifles 8). The cage could represent entrapment, with the hostage desperately wanting to be out and free. After this, the dialogue between the two women depicts a deep realization: “MRS. PETERS: But I'm awful glad you came with me, Mrs. Hale. It would be lonesome for me sitting here