Trifles (Masterplots II: Drama, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Susan Glaspell
- First Published: 1917
- Type of Plot: Mystery and detective
- Time of Work: The early twentieth century
- Setting: A family farmhouse in the American Midwest
- Principal Characters: George Henderson, Mr. Peters, Mrs. Peters, Mr. Hale, Mrs. Hale
- Genres: Social realism, Drama, Women’s literature, Mystery and detective drama
- Subjects: Justice, Wives, Abused persons, Crime or criminals, Murder or homicide, Police, Gender roles, Marriage, Domestic violence, Farms, farmers, or farming, Attorneys
- Locales: Midwest (U.S.)
The Play
Trifles tells the story of two investigations into the murder of John Wright. The male characters carry on the official investigation while the female characters carry on their own unofficial investigation.
The play opens when its five characters enter the kitchen of the Wright farmhouse. The county attorney takes charge of the investigation, guiding the sheriff and Mr. Hale in recounting their roles in the discovery of the crime. Mr. Hale tells how he came to the house to ask John Wright about sharing the cost of a phone line, only to find Mrs. Wright...
[The entire page is 1966 words long]
