The feminist theory is always adapting to new cultures and always changing. What stems from the feminist theory is feminist literary criticism “feminist criticism examines the ways in which literature (and other cultural productions) reinforces or undermines the economic, political, social, and psychological oppression of women” (Critical Theory Today, 4 Feminist Criticism, pg. 79 Tyson, Louis). This theory shows us how patriarchal our society is and that’s how Susan Glaspell’s shows her work in her lifetime where women only had a few roles. They were to have house chores done, cook, and reproduce. Women in the early twentieth century felt it was time to stand up against patriarchal oppressions and which is why Glaspell’s work critiques the
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Wright had this positive energy that used to glow from her, before the marriage demonstrates how miserable and depressed of a person she turned into. Her marriage was almost similar to, “The Yellow Wallpaper” written around the same time, husband controlled her and made every choice for a woman and wanted to the girl to isolated, like how Mr. Wright always demanded silence. The bird resembled the woman, because before marriage, she loved to sing like the birds, and after she was married she no longer sings. Her marriage was reflected by the cage itself; with the door to the cage being torn off by Mr. Wright led to him killing the pet bird, but also showed that was Mrs. Wright’s time escape from her dreadful marriage. Another symbolic item was the jar of cherry preserve that were so cold they shatter. The women see as hard work while the men see it as a “disgusting mess” and nothing to be worried about, “SHERIFF: Well, can you beat the women! Held for murder and worryin' about her preserves. COUNTY ATTORNEY: I guess before we're through she may have something more serious than preserves to worry about. HALE: Well, women are used to worrying over trifles” (30-32, Trifles, Susan Glaspell). Susan definitely made the issue stand out this way which all leads to gender roles basically the traditional behaviors each sex is expected to have, “Traditional gender rolescast men as rational, strong, protective, and decisive; they cast women as emotional (irrational), weak, …show more content…
It is seen once as a woman is married doesn’t have any ownership anymore, which the attorney says to Mrs. Peters, “A sheriff’s wife is married to the law. Ever think of it that way Mrs. Peters?” her response “Not just that way”, because she’s starting to realize she isn’t just “property” and housekeeper she’s starting to realize her own identity (25, Trifles, Susan Glaspell). These women basically struggle to fight with each other against this oppression. Since Mrs. Peter can identify the sadness with Mrs. Wright she refrains about giving the evidence. Susan validates how empowering woman can be with a sisterhood-like bond. Towards the end the attorney says “Well, Henry, at least we found out that she was not going to quilt it. She was going to—what is it you call it, ladies?” Mrs. Hales pun response “We call it—knot it, Mr. Henderson” saying that with the dead bird in her pocket, the key evidence they need to verify that it was Mrs. Wright. (150-151, Trifles, Susan Glaspell). Mr. Henderson was oblivious to the women’s knowledge they got away with keeping Mrs. Wrights murder as a
Wright had this positive energy that used to glow from her, before the marriage demonstrates how miserable and depressed of a person she turned into. Her marriage was almost similar to, “The Yellow Wallpaper” written around the same time, husband controlled her and made every choice for a woman and wanted to the girl to isolated, like how Mr. Wright always demanded silence. The bird resembled the woman, because before marriage, she loved to sing like the birds, and after she was married she no longer sings. Her marriage was reflected by the cage itself; with the door to the cage being torn off by Mr. Wright led to him killing the pet bird, but also showed that was Mrs. Wright’s time escape from her dreadful marriage. Another symbolic item was the jar of cherry preserve that were so cold they shatter. The women see as hard work while the men see it as a “disgusting mess” and nothing to be worried about, “SHERIFF: Well, can you beat the women! Held for murder and worryin' about her preserves. COUNTY ATTORNEY: I guess before we're through she may have something more serious than preserves to worry about. HALE: Well, women are used to worrying over trifles” (30-32, Trifles, Susan Glaspell). Susan definitely made the issue stand out this way which all leads to gender roles basically the traditional behaviors each sex is expected to have, “Traditional gender rolescast men as rational, strong, protective, and decisive; they cast women as emotional (irrational), weak, …show more content…
It is seen once as a woman is married doesn’t have any ownership anymore, which the attorney says to Mrs. Peters, “A sheriff’s wife is married to the law. Ever think of it that way Mrs. Peters?” her response “Not just that way”, because she’s starting to realize she isn’t just “property” and housekeeper she’s starting to realize her own identity (25, Trifles, Susan Glaspell). These women basically struggle to fight with each other against this oppression. Since Mrs. Peter can identify the sadness with Mrs. Wright she refrains about giving the evidence. Susan validates how empowering woman can be with a sisterhood-like bond. Towards the end the attorney says “Well, Henry, at least we found out that she was not going to quilt it. She was going to—what is it you call it, ladies?” Mrs. Hales pun response “We call it—knot it, Mr. Henderson” saying that with the dead bird in her pocket, the key evidence they need to verify that it was Mrs. Wright. (150-151, Trifles, Susan Glaspell). Mr. Henderson was oblivious to the women’s knowledge they got away with keeping Mrs. Wrights murder as a