Characterize John Wright- What Sort of Person was He and How Do You know? In Susan Glaspell’s play “Trifles”, George Henderson: the County Attorney, Sheriff Peters, Mrs. Peters, Lewis Hale, and Mrs. Hale travel to the home of John Wright in search of evidence. John Wright is dead. He was strangled to death with a rope in his own bed while he slept. John’s wife: Mrs. Wright, is the only person who was known to be present at the scene of the crime at the time of the murder. However, Mrs. Wright contends that she did not kill her husband and that she has no idea who did. Despite Mrs. Wright’s contention, she is the prime suspect, and the county needs only one thing in order to convict: a motive. Why would Mrs. Wright kill her husband of many
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Peters discover a birdcage, but no bird. According to Mrs. Hale, “There was a man around last year selling canaries for cheap, but I don’t know if she took one; maybe she did. She used to sing real pretty herself”(882/2). Mrs. Wright did in fact buy a canary, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters discover the bird wrapped in silk in an ornate box; the bird’s neck was wrung in a similar fashion to John Wright’s. Mrs. Hale immediately has her suspicions as to the cause of the bird’s demise, John Wright. Mrs. Hale says, “ No, Wright wouldn’t like the bird- a thing that sang. She [Mrs. Wright] used to sing. He killed that too”(884/20). Mrs. Peter contends, “We don’t know who killed the bird”(884/21), but Mrs. Hale adamantly states, “ I knew John Wright”(884/22).
After three decades of nothing but a sorrowful, disheartening existence Mrs. Wright found something small to cling to; the song of her canary. The comfort Mrs. Wright took in the company of the canary must have been such a relief after the years of bitter silence. Finally she had something to remind her of the beauty in nature, the wonders of a melodious tune. However, Mrs. Wright’s comfort would be short lived; she would quickly be reminded of her husband’s cold hearted nature. John Wright would not tolerate such a thing in his home and he silenced that canary’s song the same way he silenced Minnie
Peters discover a birdcage, but no bird. According to Mrs. Hale, “There was a man around last year selling canaries for cheap, but I don’t know if she took one; maybe she did. She used to sing real pretty herself”(882/2). Mrs. Wright did in fact buy a canary, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters discover the bird wrapped in silk in an ornate box; the bird’s neck was wrung in a similar fashion to John Wright’s. Mrs. Hale immediately has her suspicions as to the cause of the bird’s demise, John Wright. Mrs. Hale says, “ No, Wright wouldn’t like the bird- a thing that sang. She [Mrs. Wright] used to sing. He killed that too”(884/20). Mrs. Peter contends, “We don’t know who killed the bird”(884/21), but Mrs. Hale adamantly states, “ I knew John Wright”(884/22).
After three decades of nothing but a sorrowful, disheartening existence Mrs. Wright found something small to cling to; the song of her canary. The comfort Mrs. Wright took in the company of the canary must have been such a relief after the years of bitter silence. Finally she had something to remind her of the beauty in nature, the wonders of a melodious tune. However, Mrs. Wright’s comfort would be short lived; she would quickly be reminded of her husband’s cold hearted nature. John Wright would not tolerate such a thing in his home and he silenced that canary’s song the same way he silenced Minnie