Trifles by Susan Glaspell - Research Paper Example

In this paper an effort has been made to elaborate how Mrs. Peters breaks away from traditional gender roles for women of her era to take on her husband’s role as sheriff, but, in this process, seems to abandon being “married to the law” and is ultimately “loyal to her sex.” The narrowed down topic, for the purpose of this paper, is ‘crime solving.’ Does Mrs. Peters know about the evidence-based approach to investigations in crimes? Crime investigation and evidence acceptable to the law are alternative beats of the same heart.

Her priority seems to narrow down on the possible perpetrator of the crime, and to achieve her purpose she is inclined to sidetrack the legal angle to start with. The asset of the woman is her sixth sense is invariably sharper as compared to men and she is in a position to guess what is swept under the carpet, in this case, by the murderer. Just as a lie repeated a thousand times from a platform takes on the garb of truth, when women are often told that they are inferior to men, their thinking capabilities are no match to that of men, they actually believe it.

The line of action taken by the legal luminaries and by Mrs. Peters for investigation of the crime is different and it is in tune with their thinking. The thinking of the former is conditioned by legal requirements and as for Mrs. Peters she just wants to know the truth and she too seeks evidences that the official investigators would dismiss as trifles. Both are systematic in their approach of investigation but the domain of investigation of each one of them and their perspectives vary. The legal luminaries think that the interference of women led by Mrs.

Peters in the investigation is unnecessary and not worthwhile. From the point of view of the Sheriff, kitchen is the least important place but for Mrs. Peters it is the most important place. The gender perspective of the author is clearly evident