Trifles by Susan Glaspell - Book Report/Review Example

Analysis: Trifles by Susan Glaspell Trifle is a one-act play written by Susan Glaspell in 1916. It seems to portray the author’s notion of the cultural norms prevailing in the society with regard to gender and sex roles. The title of the play echoes the perception of women generally feeling possessive and concerned about “trifle” matters that have no significance in the surrounding world. It is mainly the men who eye the women in this manner and consider them consciously or unconsciously less important. Hence, Glaspell presents a parallel narrative technique whereby both man and woman reveal their perspectives of how they regard and disregard objects in a specific context. This play is about a farmer named John Wright who is murdered by his wife Minnie Wright. The plot unfolds to reveal that a small group of women including Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters tactfully refrain from disclosing the knowledge of the crime scene to the men who have not been able to find any clue as to why or whether Mrs. Wright was involved in her husband’s murder. It is a pity to learn how women were treated in the times depicted by Glaspell in her play Trifle. What is satisfying, though, is the ironical poetic justice one observes towards the end of the play. Although Mrs. Wright may have been easily accused and imprisoned for the crime she committed, the social pressures that women in general and Minnie in particular went through made way for her freedom which appeared justifiable in her situation. The attitude of men towards the women as shown by Glaspell was enough for them to behave in an abnormal fashion. From the time the play begins till the end, men are observed remarking at the women in an insulting manner which reflects their egotistic and superior guise. While they are busy in fulfilling their obligations as law professionals, the women typically seem concerned about the domestic issues surrounding Minnie Wright’s life. “Nothing here but kitchen things” says Sheriff as he looks around the house for evidence indicating his notion of how women are destined to have nothing on their mind except for kitchen and Hale adds on to this acuity by stating: “Well, women are used to worrying over trifles.”. As if immediately contrasting their perspicacity, Mrs. Hale utters “I’d hate to have men coming into my kitchen, snooping around and criticizing.” (Glaspell 1916) There is no stopping when it comes to gender inequality portrayed in the play. It is as if the war is never ending but the men end up regretting eventually because they are either cleverly kept aloof from the lives led by their women or end up dying like Mr. Wright. Living a lonely life without children was not easy for Minnie. She probably acted out in frustration and this is an excuse that only the women could understand. The men would easily throw it away as a lame feminine affair. When Sheriff says, “Well, can you beat the women! Held for murder and worryin’ about her preserves”, he is merely implying how difficult it is to make them see the emotional perspective of a woman in need of sympathy and respectable company (Glaspell 1916). The situation that the women have to confront is not easy either. Both Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters are mutually engaged in a monologue recalling their tragedies while empathizing with Mrs. Wright. On the other hand, the men see a dirty and ill-kept house as they notice the dirty towels and broken jars. They disregard the hard work that women do around the house and pass inferior remarks at them. The women simultaneously feel bad for Mrs. Wright for not visiting her more frequently. They seem to have a more holistic picture of the situation and realize that it was mainly the isolation which led to such a disaster in Mrs. Wight’s life. It is the guilt which leads them to hide the evidence that they found from their husbands, the county attorney and the sheriff. Mrs. Peters speaks in a state of compassion towards Mrs. Wright as if she could feel what she was going through: “Said she wanted an apron. Funny thing to want, for there isn’t much to get you dirty in jail…. But I suppose just to make her feel more natural.” Both women find clues in the domestic belongings of Minnie such as Mrs. Hale observation at the sewing done by Mrs. Wright: “Look at the sewing! All the rest of it has been so nice and even. And look at this! It’s all over the place! Why, it looks as if she didn’t know what she was about.” They recall how good she was at singing before she got married. When they find the empty cage and the bird strangled in the box just the way her husband is found dead, they know that it must have been Mrs. Wright who had killed him. Instead of pondering over the crime and reporting it to the police, they reflect on her pitiable life: “She – come to think of it, she was kind of like a bird herself – real sweet and pretty, but kind of timid and – fluttery” (Glaspell 1916). Mrs. Peters initially argues that the “law is the law”. But this is easily faded in the background as they speak aloud of their lives. At this point, the women are collectively viewed as made up of strong substance. They can fight back their strength by remaining silent. This may appear as a weak gesture on their part but their decision is very firm and they intend no harm to their species. They stand united against injustice just as men stand united in degrading the women of their society. Towards the end of the play when the county attorney and sheriff come downstairs where the women are sitting, they notice the apron on the table and Sheriff points it to the lawyer who says: “Oh, I guess theyre not very dangerous things the ladies have picked out. (Moves a few things about, disturbing the quilt pieces which cover the box. Steps back) No, Mrs. Peters doesnt need supervising. For that matter, a sheriffs wife is married to the law. Ever think of it that way, Mrs. Peters?” (Glaspell 1916) Ironically, this is a moment of suspense. Soon after the men leave the place, the women conceal the box in which they find the dead bird and this shows that they are indeed going to keep the secret with themselves. They choose to do so because they are not only guilty of not being able to contribute positively in Mrs. Wright’s life but also because they have realized that she was probably exhausted by her husband’s attitude towards her. Their decision seems right if one looks at it from the angle of women and their treatment in the play. According to the law, it is not the right decision but again, one might argue that once Mrs. Wright is freed, the other women will get together to help her start a clean and independent life. The liberation that they feel in hiding the clue is, indeed, a moment of exultation in their lives as they know that this is the only way they can gain the respect and freedom that they have always wanted. In response to the county attorney’s question, Mrs. Hale, while keeping her hand against her pocket in which she hides the box, replies “We call it – knot it, Mr. Henderson” (Glaspell 1916). The end justifies the decision taken by the ladies in favor of Mrs. Wright. Works Cited Glaspell, Susan. Trifles. New York: Frank Shay, 1916. Print Read More