Characters
Trifles is an one-act play written by Susan Glaspell. The play is considerably short, and features a modest cast of 7 characters. The crux of the story is the murder of John Wright, and the subsequent investigation of this event by other characters. A local sheriff and a farmer, named Mr. Peters and Mr. Hale respectively come to investigate the case, taking their wives along with them. Throughout the plot of the piece, the characters interact and play off of each other in order to bring a satisfying and interesting conclusion to the play. In particular, a divide can be felt between the male and female characters present. Both groups tend to stick together and have specific modes of thinking that are unique to them. For example, women seem to empathise with the victim’s wife the most, and understand her struggles acutely.
At the same time, the men consider their wives’ perspectives to be irrelevant to the investigation and largely unimportant. This dichotomy proves to be especially interesting when the actions of women turn out to be the cornerstone that determines the ending of the play. Women’s solidarity with each other, and the similarity of their experiences is what allows them to have empathy for Mrs. Wright, and decide to help her. As said by Mrs. Hale, “We all go through the same things—it’s all just a different kind of the same thing” (Glaspell). In the case of Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale, their unique view on the situation works to play off the harmful stereotypes of femininity. Comparatively, men exist to provide an effective opposing force to the women, act as a foil to their actions and decisions. Furthermore, the differences in viewpoints between the two groups highlights the main point of the story, which is the continuous discrimination women face under patriarchy.
Themes – Mistreatment of Women
As mentioned previously, the play is chiefly concerned with the way men used to view women at the time of its writing. At multiple points in the narrative, the audience can witness the men of the story, the chief protagonists, belittle or disregard the input of their wives. In addition, the men often make disparaging comments about them as well, ultimately considering their worries to be irrelevant or misplaced in the situation. Most of the comments made about their behavior is based on them being women.
The easiest example that encapsulates this phenomenon are the words of Mr. Hale’s words “Well, women are used to worrying over trifles”, which is used to minimize the potential impact Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters can make on the investigation (Glaspell). While the plot of the piece supposedly concerns a murder investigation, the exploration of gender roles, violence, misogyny and other social issues takes up a considerable majority of the play’s runtime, allowing the viewers to consider heavy topics from an easy-to-understand perspective
In particular, the theme of misogyny can also be noted in the murder mystery itself. The main suspect in the killing of Mr. Wright is his wife, who is determined to be the perpetrator throughout the course of the work. Despite her actions, she is presented as a victim herself, one who had to suffer emotional, and likely physical, abuse at the hands of her husband. As noted by Mrs. Hale, the deceased Mr. Wright “was a hard man, Mrs. Peters. Just to pass the time of day with him—[Shivers] Like a raw wind that gets to the bone.” (Glaspell) Having had to endure his rough temperament all alone, the woman was incredibly stressed and worn-out. This fact is evident by her uneven quilting, and the state of disrepair the house itself was in. As a result of her mistreatment, and the murder of her pet, the woman decided to take revenge. Upon putting the pieces of the puzzle together, the women express remorse over not being able to help Mrs. Wright more, and act in solidarity with her. In this way, the class of people that finds themselves oppressed by an existing system (women), bands together in order to protect themselves and their wellbeing.
Themes – Justice
Another prominent theme of the piece is justice and the law. By the end of the play, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Wright decide to hide the evidence of a motive from their husbands, directly hindering the investigation and potentially saving Mrs. Wright from prosecution. When considering this act from the point of view of regular law, it is an incorrect and illegal choice. The two women have directly opposed the justice system and contributed to the disruption of social order. However, the play asks its audience to consider whether the continued existence of a social order that actively oppresses a part of the population is worthwhile. In choosing to not punish the wives for their action, and keep the end of the play open, it asks the viewers to examine their own views on justice and morality.
Work Cited
Glaspell, S. Trifles: A play in one act. 1924.