Thelma And Louise Feminism

Trifles, with Thelma and Louise Research Paper
The early nineteen hundred was a time of change for women in America. Playwright Susan Glaspell shares her experience as a journalist in the one act play Trifles. During that time period women lived in a male-dominated society and had little or no say in society. The film Thelma and Louise capture different situations but with the same motives. The events that transpired influencing the ladies’ actions are displayed throughout the text and film. Women were desperate to find their true identity, and receive justice, while also fighting for gender equality.
Tension grew in the lives of married women; the text and film capture both sides of the relationship between married men and women. Thelma and …show more content…
“Many believed that the natural order of things was with women cooking and performing other household tasks. Fearing the possible upset of this order, men created a defense mechanism to keep women from venturing from the domestic sphere.” (Elaine Fortin). Men were the dominant gender and made sure the women in the relationship little had no say, also made sure their sole purpose in the relationship is to cook and clean for the family. The ongoing stereotype about women had finally reach the tipping point. Thelma and Mrs. Wright had finally cracked and gained the courage rise up against it. In Trifles Mrs. Wright’s would best be describe as the bird in the play, she had a sweet, pretty, timid and fluttery personality, who had been trapped in a Birdcage. The Birdcage could be used to describe her John. In order for her to break free from the misery her husband put her through, she strangles him. Mrs. Wright killed her spouse the same way her bird was killed. Killing her husband meant that the birdcage was finally open and she had finally regained freedom she had always wanted. In Thelma’s case, she did things differently to regain freedom from her husband. The actions she took were influenced by …show more content…
Thelma, Louise and Mrs. Wright were victim of abuse by men. Shooting the man that almost raped Thelma was not only to protect her, but to also receive justice for what had happened to her while she was in Texas. Crimes were not often reported where “the populations of towns and cities were much smaller. Another possibility for the low reports of this crime could be due to women being fearful of reporting the crime. The culture during this time fostered women to be non-assertive, dependent, and to feel inferior to men.” (Leslie Crossman). When Thelma asked to report the incident to the police Louise chose not to, in fear of what consequences she could face, and with no one around to believe her side of the story it would be difficult to be considered as the victim. Rape crimes were not taken seriously during that time and were often pushed aside. Louise choosing not to drive through Texas is due to fear of her reliving what she had gone through during her time there. They had no trust in the authority, which was what led to their actions and became Rebels. They felt free and powerful, which gave them confidence to keep going on to commit more crimes. During the investigation in the one act play Trifles, the detectives were trying to figure out who had killed John Wright. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters felt the need to stand up for Mrs. Wright in order to protect one of