The play "Trifles" by Susan Glaspell is a one-act play that was written in 1916 and first performed in the same year. It is a murder mystery that takes place in a rural farmhouse in the early 20th century. The play is set in a time when gender roles were very rigid and women were expected to be submissive and domestic.
The play is called "Trifles" because it is primarily about the small details and mundane tasks that are associated with the role of a housewife. The play centers around a group of women who are investigating the murder of John Wright, whose wife Minnie is the primary suspect. As the women search for clues, they come across a number of small details that reveal the tensions and conflicts in the Wright household. These small details, or "trifles," are dismissed by the men in the play as being insignificant, but they are actually clues that help the women to understand the motivations and actions of the characters.
The title "Trifles" also reflects the theme of the play, which is the marginalized and overlooked status of women in society. The men in the play are dismissive of the women's concerns and assume that they are incapable of understanding the complex issues involved in the case. However, the women are able to piece together the clues and solve the mystery, demonstrating that they are just as capable and intelligent as the men.
In addition to addressing gender roles and the marginalization of women, "Trifles" also touches on themes of loneliness, isolation, and the effects of living in a male-dominated society on women. Minnie Wright, the primary suspect in the murder, is a lonely and isolated woman who has been confined to a life of domesticity and has had no outlet for her intelligence or creativity. The play suggests that this lack of fulfillment and purpose may have contributed to her decision to kill her husband.
Overall, the play "Trifles" is a powerful and thought-provoking examination of gender roles, the marginalization of women, and the consequences of living in a society that denies women the opportunity to fulfill their potential. It is a thought-provoking and relevant work that continues to resonate with audiences today.
Trifles (play)
He killed that, too. However, due to Mrs. Wright, the main character in the play, has been leading a sad life with her husband until he has been eventually murdered. They are not educated and are not used to dealing with crime. Justice is a major theme of Trifles, especially as it pertains to women. Revista de Estudios Norteamericanos.
Trifles Flashcards
Works Cited Arcinieg, Lourdes. George Cram Cook had originally played this role. She is only referred to by the on-stage characters. After this line, all the guys yuck it up about how women never worry about important stuff, and then the guys head off to go do important man stuff like looking through the bedroom for evidence. COUNTY ATTORNEY: I guess before we're through she may have something more serious than preserves to worry about. At the end of the play they are unified in protecting their kind which they well achieve. Henderson, the county attorney, are investigating the murder.
Can Trifles be considered a feminist play explain?
One assumption is that Minnie is guilty and they try to prove this, rather than try to understand her situation and her emotions. Wright was a great singer thirty years ago, Mr. It can be seen as a mystery, because since the beginning all the characters are looking for clues to see who is responsible for Mr. The Plot Summary of a Family Murder-drama The sheriff, his wife, the county attorney, and the neighbors Mr. Strangling a bird or stopping one's wife from singing are small matters so far as the law is concerned, certainly in comparison with the murder of a man.
Trifles by Susan Glaspell
As such, the women quickly find the motive and evidence of the murder --which was the whole point of the character This play is often hailed as an icon for feminist writing in which men often belittle anything associated with women. It signifies the how life of Mrs. Susan Glaspell, the writer, uses the word trifles appropriately when naming this play, and she uses this play to establish that women were taken for granted. Doing so belies the complexity of truth, as well as of human relations. The theme of male chauvinism is also present when the state attorney says that a woman becomes what her husbands want her to become.