Trifles Symbolism

Peace and Quit The play Trifles, written by Susan Glaspell is based off a true murder that happened in 1900 in Warren county, Iowa. The true cold case, just like the play, used symbolism to reveal the motive and killer. Throughout, three specific characteristics within the house uncover the truth behind Mr. Wright’s death. The symbolism that Glaspell used creates a mystery that can only be solved if every line is read. Mrs. Wrights quilt, dirty kitchen, and dead song bird all guide the reader towards the mental abuse and sadness she went through. The two women, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peter’s piece together the small uncertainties and trifles they find within the stale, dreary home of the couple to reveal the truth behind this cold case. The two women observe the sewing of the quilt, which is in the pattern of a log cabin. With more observation they notice that the stitching declines rapidly from the start of the quit to the current position. “Bad stitching always made me fidgety” (Glaspell 1:1:254) The uneven stitching may seem to hold little importance, though Mrs. Hale notices this as her pet peeve is squirrely stitching. Glaspell used Mrs. Wrights everyday routine hobbies to portray how her life was unraveling. …show more content…
Hale and Mrs. Peter’s figure out that Mrs. Wright did in fact kill her husband, it was not without a purpose. The disheartening home of the couple was dreadful and sad. Mrs. Wright was once a free spirited bird and was caged and tamed by a controlling man. Susan Glaspell realized that women were not appreciated and given the position they deserved. She used the women in the story to uncover the clues to guide the audience to the understanding of this concept. As the reader progresses through the play the timeline of the mentionable symbols of the jagged log cabin stitching, the dirty kitchen with busted preservatives, and dead canary all allude to the motive to the murder. Mrs. Wright did in fact kill her husband, though not without a