Themes: The Perspectives of Women and Men
In Trifles, Susan Glaspell explores the differing perspectives of women and men. Mr. Henderson, Sheriff Peters, and Mr. Hale are intent upon gathering evidence in the murder of John Wright. They systematically examine the scene, looking around the kitchen, closely examining the upstairs area where the crime took place, and checking the barn. Mr. Henderson is especially interested in proving that Minnie Wright killed her husband, and he is also looking for a motive. Yet the men do not find what they need, because they are not thinking as a woman does.
Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters, however, see the situation much differently. They notice the details of Minnie’s life. They see her messy kitchen (much unlike a farm woman), her unsteady sewing on the quilt, and her dead canary. These little things, these trifles, have meaning to the women that the men cannot grasp. While the men laugh at them for worrying about such small details, the women use them to discover why Minnie may have strangled her husband. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters can relate to Minnie in a way the men cannot. They can reach into her mind, understand her emotions, grasp her loneliness, and realize what may have happened to drive her to murder.
The difference in perspectives between men and women also accounts for the women’s choice at the end of the play. As the men chuckle about the “not very dangerous things the ladies have picked out,” they do not realize that the observant women have discovered exactly what Mr. Henderson and Sheriff Peters need to make their case against Minnie. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters know that the men would simply laugh at the dead canary and the other evidence. They would not grasp its significance. So they keep their clues to themselves. Mrs. Hale slips the box with the dead bird into her pocket. If the men believe that women are only interested in trifles, then they need not see those trifles. Ironically, the men’s disdain for the women and for the women’s supposedly limited perspective has prevented them from solving the case and has revealed their own limitations.
Expert Q&A
Why did the men overlook the evidence in Trifles?
The men miss the signs because they fail to consider that the killer was inside the house, they do not take women seriously, they have preconceived notions of the evidence, and they fail to put themselves in Mrs. Wright's place.
Why don't the men in Susan Glaspell's Trifles understand Mrs. Wright's motive for murder?
The men in "Trifles" fail to understand Mrs. Wright's motive for murder because they dismiss the domestic tasks and emotional struggles women face as insignificant "trifles." They overlook the hard work and isolation Mrs. Wright endured, focusing instead on superficial judgments about housekeeping. This patronizing attitude blinds them to the deeper issues of Mrs. Wright's unhappiness and resentment, which the women in the play, through their empathy and insight, recognize and understand.
What is the significance of the kitchen setting in Glaspell's Trifles?
The kitchen in Glaspell's Trifles highlights gender roles and societal attitudes. Men dismiss it as unimportant, symbolizing their disregard for women's work and lives. However, the women find crucial evidence there, such as the broken birdcage and dead bird, revealing Mr. Wright's violence and Mrs. Wright's motive. This setting underscores women's overlooked strengths and the men's ignorance, pivotal to solving the crime.
Why does Glaspell keep the main character, Minnie Wright, offstage in Trifles?
Glaspell keeps Minnie Wright offstage in "Trifles" to emphasize her role as a thematic centerpiece rather than a dynamic character. By not humanizing her with personal traits, the play focuses on themes of oppression and feminism. Her absence allows the audience to piece together her life and motives alongside Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters through discovered clues. This technique fosters empathy for Minnie and highlights the societal issues she faced.
Who was Minnie Foster before marriage and how did her marriage change her?
Minnie Foster was a lively, sweet, pretty person before her marriage. Marrying a harsh, grim man, Mr. Wright, affected her by isolating her and destroying her bright spirit. She became caged and trapped, her spirit crushed the same way her canary was killed.
How does the Wrights' house atmosphere symbolize their marriage?
The atmosphere of the Wrights' house in Susan Glaspell's play "Trifles" symbolizes their troubled marriage and Mrs. Wright's despair. The gloomy, disordered, and cold home reflects Mrs. Wright's broken spirit and depression. The lack of a telephone signifies Mr. Wright's disinterest in communication, highlighting their emotional distance. Mrs. Wright's choice of a small chair in a corner symbolizes her confinement, both in her marriage and potentially in her future imprisonment.
In Trifles, why does Mrs. Hale's concern for Mrs. Wright's preserves suggest her innocence?
In Trifles, Mrs. Hale thinks that Mrs. Wright's worries about her preserves indicate her innocence because a woman who had murdered her husband would not be concerned over such trivial matters.
How do men and women perceive the kitchen differently in the play Trifles?
In "Trifles," men and women perceive the kitchen differently; men see it as insignificant, focusing on physical evidence elsewhere, while women recognize its clues about Mrs. Wright's life and isolation. The men dismiss the kitchen as merely Mrs. Wright's domain, overlooking subtle evidence of her struggles, including the dead canary, which the women discover and keep secret. This contrast highlights the men's disregard for domestic spaces and the women's deeper understanding of its significance.
In Trifles, what does the County Attorney suggest about Mrs. Wright's homemaking skills?
The County Attorney in "Trifles" criticizes Mrs. Wright's homemaking skills, commenting on the dirty towels and untidy kitchen. He implies that she lacks the "homemaking instinct," reflecting a dismissive attitude toward women's domestic roles. His remarks reveal a misogynistic perspective, viewing the state of the house as a failure on her part rather than considering the deeper implications of her unhappy marriage.
What was the relationship between men and women during the Trifles time period?
During the time period of "Trifles," the early 20th century, the relationship between men and women was marked by significant gender inequality. Women were viewed as inferior, not considered full citizens, and often treated as property of their husbands. Societal norms expected them to fulfill roles as birthing and nurturing machines, with limited rights and opportunities. The play reflects these dynamics, highlighting the disparities in gender rights and the beginning challenges to traditional gender constructs.
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