Drama Analysis - Trifles - Essay Example

? Drama Analysis- Trifles Introduction: “Trifles” is a drama written by Susan Glaspell who became famous as a feminist after this play. This play was written in 1916: a time when women were considered as minors in western society. The author has clearly discussed the cultural restrictions and the discrimination that have highlighted the image of a woman in the society as a ‘minor creature.’ The title of the play clearly narrates the story that how women are perceived in a society by men and how their issues are considered as unimportant ones by the dominating figures of the society. The story of the play revolves around genders and their roles in a give sphere. Glaspell has raised some of the very important questions in the minds of the audience that make them to think how men and women are valued in our society. This play not only raises the question that how women are values on the basis of the gender roles in the society but this play also points out that knowledge and perspectives are taken into consideration by the people and the society at large. Analysis of the play: The basic theme of the play revolves around that how men and women differ from each other on the basis of their knowledge, behavior and perception in a home space. Their differences occur when the male characters approach the crime scene, Wright House where the murder of Mr. Wright was taken place. The male characters perceived the house as the crime place or the crime scene whereas the female characters in the play perceived this crime scene as a home. This minor difference clearly showed that how men and women perceived the place; men being the professional investigators felt bounded to fulfill their roles and responsibilities of law professional whereas female investigators felt themselves entrapped in a emotional sphere where they found themselves helpless and emotional for the under arrest Mrs. Wright. Susan Glaspell has also highlighted the difference of behavior between the two genders such as men being more rigid on their motives and women being more flexible on how they perceive the crime and the crime scene. If analyzed critically, this position describes the ability of women that how they react and make the most of the knowledge they gain from their surroundings and how women form their actions on the basis of the knowledge gained or acquired. For female investigators, to solve the crime was not merely finding the solution of the crime but they were more interested in finding the clues for the murder case by experiencing and reliving the entire married life of Mrs. Wright with her husband. The author of the play has also highlighted the point where women investigators were put to “silence” and “devalued” for their low status. However, despite the ignorance and hostile behavior adapted by the male investigators against their women counterparts, the women were the first ones to solve the entire case by finding valuable evidences. The play revolves around the central idea that women suppressed and oppressed by males in a society where they are considered as smart dominating figures. The author of the play has tried to convey her thoughts that how men and the society portrays women. Through this play, Susan Glaspell earned the title of “feminist writer” for herself but it is equally important to understand that Susan Glaspell was not the only writer who raised her voice on this open discrimination on gender and sex roles however, there were other female writers too that showed their excellent writing skills on almost all the subjects even on the topics like gender differences and gender biasness. Feminist Criticism is an outcome of this oppression and biased attitude when women were deprived of their equal rights in the society and their achievements were left unappreciated. However, in 1960s and 1970s feminist movements gained strength and people started acknowledging the efforts of women. At that time too, female writers were faced by the same oppression and their contributions in literary world were not firmly acknowledged by male writers. However, Susan Glaspell has tried to convey the inequality that was faced by the two female characters from their male counterparts which marked the status of this play as a “feminist play.” Both the female characters used their knowledge to understand the motive behind Mrs. Wright actions. Soon, they find themselves entrapped in an emotional circle where they started to sense and feel the emotional dilemma Mrs. Wright was going through during all her marital life with Mr. Wright. In this play, Susan has used different symbols such as the body of a canary with her neck wrung the same way Mr. Wright had been murdered by her wife. In this scenario, Susan has symbolized the life of Mrs. Wright as a beautiful bird locked in a gold cage. This symbol represents the typical status of a woman in this society. As a result, as soon as the female investigators realized the situation and emotional trauma of Mrs. Wright’s marital life they plan on hiding the evidences from their male investigators. They realized the pain and torture that Mr. Wright had given to his wife through their marital life which stirred revenge in her. Susan has cleverly brought to light the prejudice behavior of male investigators who believed that their female counterparts are busy searching nothing but the “trifles” which can yield them no clues. To them the house was just a house; a crime scene where the couple lived their life and where they found Mr. Wright’s dead body. For them Mrs. Wright kitchen was just a kitchen where she spent most of her time in cooking for her husband. This shows the clear denial from the male investigators that how they consider the role of a woman in a society. It also shows their reluctance and stubbornness to enter in a woman’s sphere. Majority of men in this society consider women merely as creatures with limited knowledge and little exposure. Men completely forget that women can do wonders when they are given the chance to speak for themselves. However, till to this age, women are not granted the rights that they truly deserve. Women have always been the victim of injustice and prejudice by both the males and the society. Till today women can been seen struggling to get their rights, to make their contributions in the society and in return they also want acknowledgement and appreciation on making those contributions. However, women have always received biasness and discrimination on their efforts or contributions. How audience can perceive this drama: Different dramas can influence the audience in many different ways. ‘Trifles’ is one of the best dramas that can keep the audience spell-bound under its influence. Though the theme of the drama may appear controversial to many audience but still it holds enough potential and ability to push the audience to develop interest in the most humanly manner. This drama holds a unique kind of ethical dilemma that can inspire the audience. Even today, the audience will feel the message that Susan has tried to convey through her drama that one should not undermine the ability, knowledge and conscience of a woman. Women are the creatures that need love and affection rather giving them humiliation and denying their abilities. Though the drama is comprised of a small cast but even with the small cast the playwright has tried to convey her message in the setting of second decade of the 20th century when women were not granted enough rights. Marked by excellent performances by the actors, the drama leave the audiences spell bound and tongue tied till the last moments. Each scene and character makes the audience to understand and realize the situation of poor Mrs. Wright (Kerry Michael Wood). Even today this drama holds enough potential to make the audience think twice that how women are perceived in our society as well as it also makes them to think that how things are acquired and perceived by both the genders differently (New York Times). What the play teaches to us? The story of the play revolve around the most controversial topic that how women are manipulated and how they are treated in this society. It also shows that how male investigators tried their level best to ignore the facts and evidences collected by their female counterparts. However, realizing and understanding the grave situation of Mrs. Wright’s marital life both the female investigators started feeling “soft” and “emotional” for her. This compelled them to take a bold step against the law and justice. Ignoring the social and moral responsibilities, both the female investigators stand up to save Mrs. Wright. Women have always been oppressed and suppressed by the males in this society. It has always been hard for the women to stand up for their rights as their voices have been blocked by every dominant figure in the society. But in this play, both the female characters have gone against their nature and this oppression which made them to stand and fight back for Mrs. Wright. This play also teaches the very fact that men and women behave differently from each other. Women are make decisions and develop their understanding on the basis of their knowledge acquired from their surroundings as oppose to men are cold souls with calculated minds. In this play, soft-side of the women is also exposed by the author. Women are more flexible, emotional and human when it comes on developing understanding on issues that involve emotions and logic together. However, men are cold souls with rigid behavior and calculated minds. Conclusion: Through this play, Susan Glaspell has earned the title of a feminist writer for herself. She has highlighted the most controversial topic of her times. It was the time when women were denied of their cultural achievements and struggle by the society. It took them ages to get their contributions accepted. However, still today men and the society are in state of denial that women can perform more than their “social role” of being a mother and a home-maker. They should be treated fairly and equally. Women are not just women; they are living beings with emotions and dreams, strong enough to face any hardship and soft enough to cross all the boundaries for their loved ones. Work Cited: Jaworowski, K. Sometimes, it takes a woman to solve a murder. (2010) [Available online] http://theater.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/theater/reviews/02trifles.html accessed on 24th April 2012 Wood, M. K. Play reviews: Trifles, by Susan Glaspell. (2008) [Available Online] http://www.helium.com/items/1022994-play-reviews-trifles-by-susan-glaspell accessed on 24th April 2012 Read More