Preview

Trifles By Susan Glaspell Research Paper

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
913 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Trifles By Susan Glaspell Research Paper
Michael Cooper
LITR201-1403A-02 Literature: A Reflection of Life
Phase 4 Individual Project
August 3, 2014

The title of the Susan Glaspell play, “Trifles,” is a very important implication of the aggressive struggle that contributes to the tension of a very severe situation that is everything but trifling. A man has been murdered by his wife; however, the gentlemen of the town who are investigating the crime are unable to solve the mysterious murder through standard criminal justice procedures and logic. Alternately, a group of women who visit the home where the murder took place are unintentionally unable to “read” a set of clues that the men can’t see because all of the clues are set in around the house items that are more likely to be used by women. …show more content…
The kitchen setting was crucial to the play because all of the conversations between the characters take place there. As the men try to sort through the mess in the kitchen they totally look over the importance or meaning of the tangled room. They think the mess is a result of poor housekeeping instead of realizing its symbol as a breakdown within the couple’s home. Upon looking around the rest of the house, they observe that it is not messy. The closet was so organized that Minnie was able to tell Mrs. Peters exactly where to find her apron in it. The women in the play begin to notice through Minnie’s incomplete chores that something has gone terribly wrong in her
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Susa Trifles Feminist Analysis
    • 1388 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Susa Trifles Feminist Analysis

    It has five main characters and it is about a murder case solving scenario where the detectives were trying to solve it and women attempted to hide the truth from the men because of various reasons. There are two main female characters in Trifles. Mrs. Peters, the wife of the detective and Mrs. Hale. They are neighbor and when they go and collect something from Mrs. Peters' house they discover the dead body of Mr. Wright. While the whole cast of characters will have their lines in the play, the Wrights would be only explained through lines but no actual role. The story goes while they discovered the dead body in the house, they were looking for pieces of evidence in the house. The question would whether Mrs. Wright is responsible for this or not. Throughout the play we also can sense the relationship between both couples are not so well. Towards to end they discovered some crucial evidence which could prove that Mrs. Wright was the killer of her own husband. However they then think of the unhappy marriage they had and decided to hide the evidence as a revenge to their husband so they can never solve this…

    • 1388 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Trifles: Woman and Mr. Peters
    • 1480 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Trifles: Woman and Mr. Peters

    Since the 1900’s, women have struggled with gender roles in society that leaned more in favor of men. Susan Glaspell’s play, Trifles, reflects on this struggle by blatantly separating the ideas, opinions and actions of the men and women in the play. As the title Trifles suggests, the men in the play view the two women’s concerns as unimportant and frivolous in comparison to the “real” work the men have to do. Glaspell’s characterization of the sheriff, Henry Peters, the attorney, George Henderson, and the neighboring farmer, Mr. Hale, portrays them as typical men of the time who decide to take charge because, as men, that is their duty and only they know what can be done and how to go about discovering the truth. They only take along Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters to collect some things for Mrs. Wright, never taking a moment to think that from a woman’s perspective, the answer to the murder could be found.…

    • 1480 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Analysis Of Susan Glaspell's A Jury Of Her Peers
    • 1181 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Analysis Of Susan Glaspell's A Jury Of Her Peers

    Because she was almost constantly isolated from everyone except her husband, Minnie had to find a way to show how terrible her life was in the few interactions she was able to have with other women. This meant she had to be able to nonverbally communicate to others in a way her husband would not notice. “Throughout history, from the first Christians who decorated their houses with a mosaic of a fish to the American prisoners of the Vietnam War who used Morse code by blinking their eyes during televised questioning to communicate they had been tortured, people deprived of their freedom have always resorted to alternative means of communication which allow them to "contact" either with the outer world or with those in similar circumstances, And that is exactly the function of the objects found in Minnie Wright's kitchen; they are her means of telling her "sisters in arms" what she has gone through.” The way Minnie was able to find was leaving her house in a terrible condition. John most likely agreed with the other men in this story that his wife was, “Not much of a housekeeper” (Glaspell 505). But other women were able to recognize the signs of their own imprisonment through the objects in the Wrights’ home, and allowed her to become free of her imprisonment in the arms of her…

    • 1181 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Susan Glaspell's Trifling Murder Or Vicious Slaughter?
    • 1132 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Susan Glaspell's Trifling Murder Or Vicious Slaughter?

    Trifles, by Susan Glaspell is a well-known play throughout the English community. It is a suspenseful murder mystery that pulls citizens of a town together to try and seek justice after a homicide has occurred. This play begins with the audience learning that John Wright, a humble farmer, has been killed while he was asleep. His wife, Minnie Wright, has a very strange way of handling this grief and becomes the main suspect. During this play five characters, two women and three men, search the Wright home for clues, evidence, and a possible motive for the murder. It ends with the women finding a shocking discovery that they choose to hide from the men.…

    • 1132 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Identity In Susan Glaspell's Trifles
    • 637 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Identity In Susan Glaspell's Trifles

    Susan Glaspell was an American Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, actress, novelist, and journalist. Glaspell wrote the play Trifles which tells the story two investigations being conducted over murder of John Wright. While the male characters of the play conduct an “official” investigation the female characters find themselves inadvertently conducting their own “unofficial” investigation. However this is not a run-of-the-mill murder mystery play, in which the focus lies solely on discovering the culprit and the culprit’s motive. Glaspell uses her story to also present a unique perspective of a controversial issue during her time, including the theme of female identity, primarily between women. During the time period in which Glaspell lived, the idea of fighting for women’s…

    • 637 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    A Jury Of Her Peers: A Thematic Analysis
    • 2073 Words
    • 9 Pages

    A Jury Of Her Peers: A Thematic Analysis

    The year was 1917, and women had yet to have the right to suffrage. The oppression that had been an ongoing theme throughout history had finally begun to be challenged, for equality issues had been addressed and even solved, such as equal representation This specific time was what would bring about the first wave feminism. Though women were still struggling with issues such as this, an optimistic Susan Glaspell rose to take a stand on this. Glaspell was a 41 year old author who wrote a special play known as Trifles that contained special themes and topics to the time. The special part of this was a unique theme very present; feminism. This would all be wrapped up in a very short, but tip of the iceberg type adaptation of the play into book form now known as A Jury of Her Peers. Through the many different pieces, such as characterization, in A Jury of Her Peers, Glaspell demonstrates a clear divide between the sexes in order to promote ideals of feminism and a call to action for equality.…

    • 2073 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Susan Glaspell's Trifles
    • 596 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Susan Glaspell's Trifles

    The Webster’s Dictionary definition of trifle is: something that does not have much value or importance (“trifle”). When one looks at the title of Susan Glaspell’s short play, at first they may think that it is as the title implies; unimportant or the story being told is for nothing more than entertainment. Upon further examination and consultation of critical sources, the reader is able to tease out a deeper meaning. The play, Trifles, written by Susan Glaspell is an intricately weaved narrative on gender roles and home life as it was in early 1900s.…

    • 596 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Trifles
    • 1226 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Trifles

    Their behavior slightly change through the play. At the beginning of the play they took Mrs. Wrights side after the comments made by the men in the kitchen. It showed some kind of sympathy for Minnie and as they were acquiring knowledge of Minnie's present life, a felling of protection appeared. By the end of the play they both found part themselves on Minnie reality and the sympathy suddenly became an empathy for her.…

    • 1226 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Trifles Motive For Murder Essay
    • 601 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Trifles Motive For Murder Essay

    To begin with, the symbol of the messy kitchen appears trivial, yet reveals Mrs. Wright was under emotional distress. In the opening scene, Susan Glaspell notes how the kitchen was “left without being put in order-unwashed pans under the sink, a loaf of bread outside the breadbox, a dishtowel on the table” (1386). These disorganized things are inconsistent with the life of a Farmers’ wife. Mrs. Hale stated that “There is a great deal…

    • 601 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Trifles Gender Roles
    • 131 Words
    • 1 Page

    Trifles Gender Roles

    The play “Trifles” written by Susan Glaspell is based in the early 1900’s when it was typical for the masculine gender role to dominate the feminine role. The theme is of the play is power and domination over females during this time era. Upon analyzing this play, Mr. Hale and Mr. Peter’s are investigating the murder and they portray themselves as strong and determined, but in reality they are not as alert as the women are. In conclusion, the women figured out that Mrs. Wright murdered her husband by simply observing the house and finding the dead bird; the men were upstairs at the scene of the crime and could not figure it out. Men to this day still do not understand that sometimes the woman’s way of thinking is better!…

    • 131 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Trifles Feminist Analysis
    • 2287 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Trifles Feminist Analysis

    In the play, “Trifles,” Susan Glaspell demonstrates the inequality that occurs between men and women during the 20th century. From the opening scene, the two women are not given much attention unlike the men, until they are separated from them and become the main characters. Although the women are seen as inferior to men, they prove that they are much more capable as they are the ones who solve the case by thinking outside the box. They find the real motive behind Mrs. Wright’s action and are able to understand her doing because of the way women were treated back then. Even though both women decide to defend Mrs. Wright by hiding the evidence, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters sympathize with her, but for different reasons.…

    • 2287 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Treatment of Women in Trifles
    • 860 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Treatment of Women in Trifles

    "Trifles," a one-act play written by Susan Glaspell, is a cleverly written story about a murder and more importantly, it effectively describes the treatment of women during the early 1900s. In the opening scene, we learn a great deal of information about the people of the play and of their opinions. We know that there are five main characters, three men and two women. The weather outside is frighteningly cold, and yet the men enter the warm farmhouse first. The women stand together away from the men, which immediately puts the men against the women. Mrs. Hale's and Mrs. Peters's treatment from the men in the play is reflective of the beliefs of that time. These women, aware of the powerless slot that has been made for them, manage to use their power in a way that gives them an edge. This power enables them to succeed in protecting Minnie, the accused. "Trifles" not only tells a story, it shows the demeaning view the men have for the women, the women's reaction to man's prejudice, and the women's defiance of their powerless position.…

    • 860 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Similarities Between A Doll's House And Trifles
    • 1541 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Similarities Between A Doll's House And Trifles

    Women have been treated as lessors to men in the past, feminine equality is a new concept that has only been around for about a century. In both plays “Trifles” and “A Doll’s House” they address stereotypes of women during these time periods. “Trifles” by Susan Glaspell explores the mysterious death of Mr. Wright (Mrs. Wrights husband). As the play progresses the audience gets insight to Mrs. Wright’s life, and how Mr. Wright treated her. Mr. Wright was known to be a brash, and unruly man. The women in this play (Ms. Hale and Mrs. Peters) both know the kind of man Mr. Wright was, The men may have known this too, but the time period the play takes place in, domestic violence toward women was not highly looked into. The text “Portable Literature: Reading, Reacting. Writing” explains that Glaspell’s main force behind the play “Trifles” was to shed light on the treatment of women. The text states that “Women…

    • 1541 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Trifles Film Adaptation Essay
    • 905 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Trifles Film Adaptation Essay

    Susan Glaspell’s Trifles is a play about a murder mystery that is loosely based on an actual murder case that the author covered while working as a reporter for the Des Moines Daily News (Ben-Zvi 143). Since the play is written in 1916, a time when the boundaries between the private and public spheres are beginning to break down, it strongly reflects on the culture-bound notions of sex roles and gender. Back then, women are thought to be concerned about insignificant issues that hold little to no importance to the true work of society, also known as trifles, just as the title of the play suggests. In 2008, Ghost Ranch Productions, with director Pamela Walker, who plays Mrs. Wright herself, produces Trifles, a film adaptation of Glaspell’s famous play. Through the creative use of literary elements and some small alterations to the plot, dialogue, and setting, Walker effectively demonstrates the play’s major theme of gender differences in the film.…

    • 905 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    A Jury Of Her Peers Analysis Essay
    • 1150 Words
    • 5 Pages

    A Jury Of Her Peers Analysis Essay

    The whole story is based upon a conflict of what happened and who had killed Mr. Wright, but the real conflict lies with the two ladies that came to the house. What would they do when faced with the decision of standing up for a fellow woman which struggles they could relate to or give up the evidence that would lock her away for good. When the story begins it is shown that neither of these woman have deep connections with Minnie one only knows her from when she was a child while the other not at all. From this it can be seen that the women originally are terrified by what has happened but do not truly want to be involved. Continuing along however the similarities of these women’s lives with Minnie’s are shown, and the caring for another women or the protection for her is brought out in their decision to hold the evidence that would prove her guilty so that she is able to hopefully be…

    • 1150 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics