A jury of her peers by susan glaspell sparknotes. A Jury of Her Peers Themes 2022-10-23

A jury of her peers by susan glaspell sparknotes Rating: 5,5/10 1901 reviews

"A Jury of Her Peers" is a short story written by Susan Glaspell in 1917. The story is told from the perspective of two women, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters, who are asked to assist in the investigation of a murder that has taken place in their small town. The victim is Mrs. Wright, and her husband, John Wright, is the prime suspect.

As Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters search the Wright household for clues, they begin to see the isolation and loneliness that Mrs. Wright has experienced in her marriage. They also discover evidence that suggests that Mrs. Wright may have been driven to kill her husband due to the oppressive and controlling nature of their relationship.

Throughout the story, Glaspell highlights the ways in which women are often overlooked and underestimated by the men around them. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters are initially dismissed by the male investigators, who assume that they have nothing valuable to contribute to the case. However, it is their keen observations and understanding of Mrs. Wright's situation that ultimately lead to the discovery of the motive for the murder.

One of the most powerful themes in "A Jury of Her Peers" is the idea of feminine solidarity. Despite the societal expectations placed upon them, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters are able to come together and support one another in their quest for the truth. They recognize that they have a shared understanding of the struggles and challenges that women face, and they use this bond to help each other navigate the difficult circumstances of the investigation.

In the end, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters are able to present their findings to the male investigators, and their insights are instrumental in helping to solve the case. Through their actions, Glaspell suggests that women are capable of making meaningful contributions to society and that they should not be underestimated or dismissed simply because of their gender.

Overall, "A Jury of Her Peers" is a thought-provoking and powerful story that highlights the resilience and determination of women in the face of adversity. It serves as a reminder of the importance of feminine solidarity and the valuable insights that women can bring to any situation.

A Jury of Her Peers Summary

a jury of her peers by susan glaspell sparknotes

. Why do we know--what we know this minute? Wright in jail, unaware that they are concealing crucial evidence. Worryin' about her fruit. She used to be beautiful; she used to sing. But he was a hard man, Mrs. They say he was a good man. Hale says that the women are always worried about "trifles".

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Susan Glaspell A Jury Of Her Peers Analysis

a jury of her peers by susan glaspell sparknotes

Margaret Hossack claimed that John had been murdered with an axe by an intruder. Peters' memories allow her to feel empathetic to Mrs. Minnie Wright, whom the women refer to by her maiden name, Minnie Foster, is being held at the jail as a suspect. Martha Hale sprang up, her hands tight together, looking at that other woman, with whom it rested. The picture changes for a woman. People share a certain subjective viewpoint if they have enough common experiences.

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Analysis of Susan Glaspell’s A Jury of Her Peers

a jury of her peers by susan glaspell sparknotes

Henderson consents, telling the women to look for clues as they work. I wonder what happened to it. Because they cannot issue a verdict in court, they take matters into their own hands and dispose of the dead bird. Thus, she is not allowed to speak for herself; and the reader comes to know her solely by what Mrs. In a moment of foreshadowing, the attorney mentions the possibility of the women finding a clue.

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A Jury of Her Peers Themes

a jury of her peers by susan glaspell sparknotes

Getting all stirred up over a little thing like a—dead canary. The irony in "A Jury of Her Peers" is that the sheriff, the county attorney, and Mr. Her singing ability was highly recognized by many in town. Peters was going to take in? The silence made Mrs. In maintaining a focus on what a woman should be, there is a lack of focus on what a man should be. Things begun—and not finished.

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A Jury of Her Peers by Susan Glaspell

a jury of her peers by susan glaspell sparknotes

During this time, the social climate of many Western countries began to change dramatically. Political power and economics were now shared—at least somewhat—between the sexes, and the preexisting gender divide between public man and private woman no longer provided the security of male mastery. Maybe because it's down in a hollow and you don't see the road. They understood that it was a living hell for her to live with a person who was nonidentical from her. I'll warrant that was something she had a long time ago--when she was a girl. Wright worrying about her fruit when she is being held for murder.

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A Jury of Her Peers Full Text and Analysis

a jury of her peers by susan glaspell sparknotes

Peters took a step forward, then stopped. Hale feels terrible about not reaching out to Mrs. He turned to wipe them on the roller towel--whirled it for a cleaner place. Anything that the women take notice of is considered to be of little importance. During the 19th century and early 20th century, America was still cluttered within the hollow dogmas of patriarchal society. The men enter, and the women hide the bird. They discuss the fact that Mr.

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A Jury of Her Peers Summary & Analysis

a jury of her peers by susan glaspell sparknotes

The story is an adaptation of Glaspell's one-act play, "Trifles". He was cold, unkind, and bullied his wife. Hale defends her unbiased opinion by pointing out that she has not visited Minnie Wright in years. He asked after her husband and she calmly told him that he was there, but Mr. If they opinion and vote on a jury, would be disliked by others they could face a pecuniary injury, so Judge Taylor excuses them.

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A Jury of Her Peers Analysis

a jury of her peers by susan glaspell sparknotes

Peters, has requested her presence, the sheriff adding that she might be too afraid and wanted a woman to accompany her for support. Over fifty years after the first performance of Trifles, feminist critics appropriated the short story version as a critique of male-dominated society. Certainly it was not "slicked up. Peters reached out for the bottle of fruit as if she were glad to take it--as if touching a familiar thing, having something to do, could keep her from something else. Peters is less empathetic, until she harkens back to two of her own memories. Peters mirror the power differences between the characters: Mr.

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A Jury of Her Peers by Susan Glaspell Plot Summary

a jury of her peers by susan glaspell sparknotes

Hale, succinctly summarizing their quandary. Hale condenses a broad idea of the story into a single sentence: all women experience the same subservience and belittlement at the hands of men, which creates loyalty to their fellow women. Minnie changed after her marriage from a lively youth to a reclusive woman. She hoped he would tell this straight and plain, and not say unnecessary things that would just make things harder for Minnie Foster. Hale mocks the women for worrying over Mrs. Its neck—look at its neck! She's got that feeling some people have about cats--being afraid of them.

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A Jury of Her Peers

a jury of her peers by susan glaspell sparknotes

Hale," she said in her tight little way. Hale, after a glance around. Hale to the Wrights' house so that Mr. Aware of the details of daily household chores, the two women grasp the overall scenario: an enraged husband killed by an even more enraged wife. Peters went to the back of the room to hang up the fur tippet she was wearing. There might be some people who believe that race and gender issues are separate from the personal and the political problem. Hale entered the house to find Minnie Wright in her rocking chair.

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