Two important works that are good examples of traditional gender roles are Susan Glaspell’s play Trifles and Lynn Nottage’s play Poof. On the surface, these plays don’t seem to have very much in common; a closer look, however, reveals that both plays show similar themes and issues. The issues highlighted in both plays are suppression of women and ramifications of society. In both plays there are similarities but differing in some aspects. Noting the similarities and contrasts in the symbolism, irony, point of view and setting which are implemented within the plays. Trifles is not a traditional murder mystery story. The men are arrogant and logical; the women are sympathetic and empathize with Minnie.
Trifles, for example, have a lot of symbolism …show more content…
This is more than a story of women learning something that the confident, powerful men remain ignorant about. The path these country women follow leads them directly to their choice of silence. In the beginning, the women are silent from the powerlessness and their final refusal to speak rings with power of intention and choice. When the men return to the kitchen the women discussing how Mrs. Wright killed her husband, but the men assume the women are discussing housework. The county attorney’s ignorance of Minnie’s fear of cats causes him to overlook the clue of the empty bird cage. When he asks, if the bird has flown, Mrs. Hale lies “we think the cat got it.” The women empathize with Minnie and their perspective impels them to in a sense relive her entire married life rather than simply to research one violent moment.
The point of view of Trifles is very critical to this story. The third person point of view used in Trifles does not let us know what really happened but lets the audience figure it out with the characters. It also lets the audience know how alone Minnie really was. Mrs. Hale lived not far away from Minnie, but had not visited in almost a year. Even Mrs. Hale knew that Minnie must have been lonely and her husband was hard to deal …show more content…
Unlike Minnie, Loureen does not physically overpower her husband but in a sense overpowers him by gaining enough control to damn him to hell. In both stories all the women characters are repressed. However, in Poof Loureen has a friend named Florence who is also in an abusive relationship with her husband. Minnie and Loureen were both at some time beautiful women that dedicated their lives to their husbands and living in fear. Poof is perhaps what women in abusive relationships would happen to their significant others. No body to clean up or explanations needed just a little bit of
Trifles, for example, have a lot of symbolism …show more content…
This is more than a story of women learning something that the confident, powerful men remain ignorant about. The path these country women follow leads them directly to their choice of silence. In the beginning, the women are silent from the powerlessness and their final refusal to speak rings with power of intention and choice. When the men return to the kitchen the women discussing how Mrs. Wright killed her husband, but the men assume the women are discussing housework. The county attorney’s ignorance of Minnie’s fear of cats causes him to overlook the clue of the empty bird cage. When he asks, if the bird has flown, Mrs. Hale lies “we think the cat got it.” The women empathize with Minnie and their perspective impels them to in a sense relive her entire married life rather than simply to research one violent moment.
The point of view of Trifles is very critical to this story. The third person point of view used in Trifles does not let us know what really happened but lets the audience figure it out with the characters. It also lets the audience know how alone Minnie really was. Mrs. Hale lived not far away from Minnie, but had not visited in almost a year. Even Mrs. Hale knew that Minnie must have been lonely and her husband was hard to deal …show more content…
Unlike Minnie, Loureen does not physically overpower her husband but in a sense overpowers him by gaining enough control to damn him to hell. In both stories all the women characters are repressed. However, in Poof Loureen has a friend named Florence who is also in an abusive relationship with her husband. Minnie and Loureen were both at some time beautiful women that dedicated their lives to their husbands and living in fear. Poof is perhaps what women in abusive relationships would happen to their significant others. No body to clean up or explanations needed just a little bit of