Susan Glaspell penned the play, "Trifles", in 1916, only to rewrite it into a short story, "Jury of Her Peers", the next year. In a comparison/contrast of the play and short story the writing is very similar, but the presentation of the plot, characters, and theme change as the play transitions into a story.
In both writings, a murder investigation is underway by some of the townspeople, concerning a woman who was thought to have killed her husband. The play begins with the audience drawn into a crime scene. Despite the fact that, Minnie Wright is never seen in the play, she is center stage of criticism for housekeeping skills. The short story alludes to a motive, while the moral dilemma is discussed between the women now in Minnie Wright's …show more content…
The men were there on legal business, looking to find truth and justice. They were following the written law. For example, the sheriff did not view the look of the environment within the farm kitchen as an important part of the investigation when he stated, "There's nothing here but kitchen things." On the other hand, the play made mention, directly in the title, how women spent the majority of their lives living with trifles. The condition of the kitchen was a major factor, when the women made their assumptions as to what happen. The women provide solidarity by the understanding of the oppression Mrs. Wright had suffered. However, being emotionally abused by her husband, Minnie Wright finds herself in jail for murder. Nevertheless, the ladies recognize the silent desperation of what Minnie's life had been like: no telephone; inadequate stove for cooking; shabby garments to wear illustrating the deteriorated conditions of living on the farm. In addition, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters observed the unfinished task within the home and discovered the dead canary. Without the story stating so, the women had become her jury and saw no reason she should be convicted. The short story as opposed to the play, shed some light
In both writings, a murder investigation is underway by some of the townspeople, concerning a woman who was thought to have killed her husband. The play begins with the audience drawn into a crime scene. Despite the fact that, Minnie Wright is never seen in the play, she is center stage of criticism for housekeeping skills. The short story alludes to a motive, while the moral dilemma is discussed between the women now in Minnie Wright's …show more content…
The men were there on legal business, looking to find truth and justice. They were following the written law. For example, the sheriff did not view the look of the environment within the farm kitchen as an important part of the investigation when he stated, "There's nothing here but kitchen things." On the other hand, the play made mention, directly in the title, how women spent the majority of their lives living with trifles. The condition of the kitchen was a major factor, when the women made their assumptions as to what happen. The women provide solidarity by the understanding of the oppression Mrs. Wright had suffered. However, being emotionally abused by her husband, Minnie Wright finds herself in jail for murder. Nevertheless, the ladies recognize the silent desperation of what Minnie's life had been like: no telephone; inadequate stove for cooking; shabby garments to wear illustrating the deteriorated conditions of living on the farm. In addition, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters observed the unfinished task within the home and discovered the dead canary. Without the story stating so, the women had become her jury and saw no reason she should be convicted. The short story as opposed to the play, shed some light