Susan Glaspell's "Trifles" is a one act play based in the early 20th century that includes strong feminist elements that fit well with the time and the world-wide women's rights movement. The play is a murder mystery surrounding the Wrights, Mrs. Wright the wife, and John Wright the murder victim. The story also uses the general mood of society toward women and how they were viewed as beneath most men and not having the intelligence or ability to perform as well as men in most situations. The play shows the common mentality accepted by men in this time toward women. The play also does a great job of using expositions, character, dialogue, theme, and symbolism to portray the strong feminist theme that women are the equals of men.
The characters of the play are Henry Peters the Sheriff, neighboring farmer Lewis Hale, the county attorney George Henderson, Mrs. Hale, and Mrs. Peters. Mrs. Hale and Peters are the wives of Henry Peters and Lewis hale and they are also the main protagonists in the story. The play takes place in the Wright's house. While the men start the investigation, the women …show more content…
In one exchange we have Mrs. Peters comment on how Mrs. Wright was worried about her fruit and the Sheriff glibly replies, "Held for murder and worryin’ about her preserves” (Glaspell 8). This general attitude toward women is held by the other men in the room in that "women are used to worrying over trifles” (Glaspell 8). The dialogue shows a general lack of respect for what the women have to say. The way the Sheriff reacts to his own wife's words appear a little harsh given she was just making some conversation, but in this we see that a woman's place was not to speak until spoken to. The prejudice attitude from the men to the woman is apparent at this point to the audience and allows for speculation as to how the men normally treat their
The characters of the play are Henry Peters the Sheriff, neighboring farmer Lewis Hale, the county attorney George Henderson, Mrs. Hale, and Mrs. Peters. Mrs. Hale and Peters are the wives of Henry Peters and Lewis hale and they are also the main protagonists in the story. The play takes place in the Wright's house. While the men start the investigation, the women …show more content…
In one exchange we have Mrs. Peters comment on how Mrs. Wright was worried about her fruit and the Sheriff glibly replies, "Held for murder and worryin’ about her preserves” (Glaspell 8). This general attitude toward women is held by the other men in the room in that "women are used to worrying over trifles” (Glaspell 8). The dialogue shows a general lack of respect for what the women have to say. The way the Sheriff reacts to his own wife's words appear a little harsh given she was just making some conversation, but in this we see that a woman's place was not to speak until spoken to. The prejudice attitude from the men to the woman is apparent at this point to the audience and allows for speculation as to how the men normally treat their