Trifles By Susan Glaspell Essay

“Freedom is not given. It is our right at birth. But there are some moments when it must be taken” (Amistad). Those who are repressed seek expression; those who are trapped…freedom. The human spirit rebels against dominance, propelling those effected into action. The short dramatic play, “Trifles,” by Susan Glaspell showcases the repression of American women by a male dominated society during the late 1800’s. The protagonist, Minnie Wright, remains unseen throughout the play. Just as women of the playwright’s time were silenced in matters that affected their day-to day lives, Minnie is helpless to defend herself and is instead, defended through the exposure of her circumstances. “Trifles” reminds the audience that women are not to be
The kitchen setting is crucial to the play as all of the discussions and interactions between the characters take place here. As the men survey the mess in the kitchen they completely miss the significance of the untidy room. They attribute the mess to poor housekeeping instead of recognizing its significance as a breakdown in the Wright’s home. Observation reveals that the rest of the home is not untidy. The closet is well organized and in fact, so much so, that Minnie is able to describe to Mrs. Peters exactly where she would find the location of her apron. The women, unlike the men, begin to understand through these unfinished chores that something has gone terribly wrong in Minnie’s
Society changes slowly. Repressed segments of society must force the injustices and indignities that they suffer into the spotlight and initiate change. By writing and performing plays that exposed social inequalities, Susan Glaspell helped to usher in changes that positively effected the times she lived in. The women’s suffrage movement was gaining momentum and perhaps was boosted by the awareness that this type of media provided. Dramatic works often help to further causes by forcing people to acknowledge and discuss issues they might not feel qualified to address. Minnie Wright’s plight excuses a wrong by exposing a “right” - a right that is the very backbone of our nation. Eloquently stated in our Declaration of Independence are these words, "We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights; that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” (Preamble). When society attempts to deny any segment of the population these basic human rights, what else can we expect but