Analysis of Trifles by Susan Glaspell - Research Paper Example

English 1102 Research Paper A number of prominent female writers emerged, in the nineteenth century, one of them being Susan Glaspell. Glaspell primarily focused most of her literary works on the theme of inequality of sexes. In the late nineteenth century, most female authors based their literary works on their personal experiences. They wrote about the problems and challenges they experienced, in the traditional male dominated societies. Glaspell’s Trifles is one of the plays that focus on this theme since the play is set in a domestic sphere, kitchen, and it particularly addresses issues relating to women. Glaspell was born on July 1, 1876, in Davenport, Iowa (Rajkowska & Ozieblo 3). She graduated with a Ph. B. in philosophy from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa (Rajkowska & Ozieblo 4). After her graduation, she worked full-time as a reporter for the Des Moines Daily News. Her Midwestern background significantly influenced her writing style and career. Additionally, Provincetown Players also influenced Glaspell’s writing techniques. This is because these players gave her voice and forum for her ideas, an introduced her to new ideas and people. Her husband, George Cook, who was also one of the players, introduced her to the world of socialism, and taught her a new way of appreciating the world around her. “Trifles” is one of her first dramatic play, and it is based on an actual murder case she witnessed while working for the newspaper company. Glaspell’s indirectness, in “Trifles”, proves to be so far. She describes women’s place, in the traditional male dominated societies through this play. In the nineteenth century, women were recognized as homemakers and family caretakers (Glaspell 6). They were expected not to protest to achieve equality with their partners during conflicts. Similarly, they were not expected not to present their demands since the traditional societies offered them enough space to present their grievances without protesting against things that the society stipulated as “right things” (Warren 44). For example, in “Trifles, men hold distinctive titles, but they do not use their positions to address issues or problems represented by women. The county sheriff and deputy use fancy methods and spend time searching for evidences to solve the murder case, but they come up with nothing (Glaspell 11). The women, who filed this case, are presented as housewives. Knowing that the investigation being done by the sheriff and deputy was leading nowhere, they decide to solve the case methodically and quietly. They apply their knowledge about Minnie Foster to formulate the reasons why she killed her husband. They also use the knowledge of off-centered stitching, in the blanket, to suggest that she was nervous. These women find a dead bird at the crime scene, and use it as a tangible motive and evidence to explain why she may have murdered her husband. This example provides an insight of the challenges many women experienced, in the nineteenth century. A woman was perceived as a weaker sex who has no voice and rights over some issues pertaining their families and society. Thematically, Glaspell’s play, “Trifles” asserts that women in the traditional societies had no choices to make, in their lives. They were not allowed to work in the industries, participate in crucial decision making processes, and hold public offices and titles (Glaspell 15). Most women lived like slaves in their own communities. They also had to obey men because men controlled all the resources, and women had to depend on their husbands. Marriage was also “a must thing” for all women. They had no opportunities for choosing the man they want to marry. Women who remained defiant attracted social pity and disapproval (Wayne 25). Such women were not allowed to cohabit with men nor have children. The social penalties, for single women, were extremely high. Additionally, men had the right of accessing a woman’s body whenever they wanted to. Men could also send their children to live with their relatives without consulting with their wives. In the traditional societies, the law also disregarded marriages. Glaspell describes how the law disregarded women in her play Trifles. The county attorney did not realize the pride in Mrs. Peter’s marriage. When making the ruling, he made a remark that Mrs. Peter is “married to the law” (Glaspell 14). This is an indication that all women, including Mrs. Peter, are people who are dominated by their husbands. The county attorney’s remark illustrates how the law treated people differently based on their gender. The older societies were dominated by male chauvinists who believed that they are superior to their female counterparts. They drafted the society’s laws in a way that favored them. Women were usually raped by their husbands, who had the right to access their bodies whenever they want to, but no legal actions were taken to protect them. However, when a woman killed or argued with her husband, the issue was treated as a serious offence, which could cost the women enormous charges. This is the reason why the county sheriff and deputy use fancy methods, and spend time searching for evidences to investigate the cause of Mr. Wright’s death. The fight against gender inequality is also presented in Glaspell’s play. In the late nineteenth century, many women across the globe realized the need to protect themselves against some societal norms, and pursue their human rights (Johnson 56). They also wanted to reduce men’s dominance, in the society. They wanted to retrieve their human rights, personality, gain their independence, and right to hold public offices (Johnson 56). In Trifles, when Mrs. Wright killed her husband, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peter were determined to protect her from being prosecuted. They even show sympathy for their colleague, in a sense of solidarity (Glaspell 13). In an attempt to rescue her, they decide to carry out their own investigations to establish the motives that made Mrs. Wright kill her husband. Mrs. Hale stated that housework is a difficult job, and it inflicts stress on many women. Therefore, stress may have driven Mrs. Wright to wring her husband’s neck (Glaspell 13). The three women represent a change for women, in the late nineteenth century (Mattingly 103). We see them taking a legal action to defend their friend, something that was unusual in a male dominated society. In the court, their ideas and suggestions are not addressed with serious concerns because they are women. They were expected to be at home and make their homes cheerful place. The county attorney blamed Mrs. Wright for failing to make her home happy. In conclusion, Glaspell’s play describes the position of women, in a traditional society, and their fight for freedom and human rights. The nineteenth century society was male dominated, and all women had no voices of presenting their grievances. Their male counterparts perceived them as helpless weaker sexes. They were only expected to do domestic roles like cooking, cleaning, and taking care of their husband and children. Mrs. Hale, Mrs. Wright and Mrs. Peter are presented as symbols for change for women. This is because they involved themselves in an activity that was believed to be men’s affair. Glaspell is particularly trying to reaffirm the idea that women should be treated equally like men both at home and society at large. Works Cited Glaspell S. Trifles. New York: Baker's Plays, 2010. Print Johnson A. G. Gender Knot Revised Ed: Unraveling Our Patriarchal Legacy. New York: Temple University Press, 2005. Print Mattingly C. Well-Tempered Women: Nineteenth-Century Temperance Rhetoric. New York: SIU Press, 1998. Print Rajkowska B. O, Ozieblo B. Susan Glaspell: A Critical Biography. London: UNC Press Books, 2010. Print Warren J. W. Women, Money, and the Law: Nineteenth-Century Fiction, Gender, and the Courts. New York: University of Iowa Press, 2005. Print Wayne T. K. Women's Roles in Nineteenth-Century America. New York: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2007. Print Read More