The Webster’s Dictionary definition of trifle is: something that does not have much value or importance (“trifle”). When one looks at the title of Susan Glaspell’s short play‚ at first they may think that it is as the title implies; unimportant or the story being told is for nothing more than entertainment. Upon further examination and consultation of critical sources‚ the reader is able to tease out a deeper meaning. The play‚ Trifles‚ written by Susan Glaspell is an intricately weaved narrative
Premium Woman Wife Gender
The name Trifles and its significance John Wright was murdered in his bedroom; someone had took a rope and put it around his neck and strangled him. All the men‚ the sheriff‚ the country attorney‚ and the neighbor‚ thought his wife was the one killed him. This play is based on events that happened in the early 20th century. 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. First‚ you can
Premium Woman Anxiety 20th century
The play “Trifles” written by Susan Glaspell contains many literary elements that support the theme of the play. There are many themes discussed in this one act play. Some of these themes include: patriarchal dominance and male chauvinism‚ law and duty‚ and justice. The main theme‚ although there are many‚ is patriarchal dominance‚ meaning that men believe that they are above women in all circumstances. This mindset is very common among the men in this play; the men infer that the women are not capable
Premium Symbol Symbolism The Time
In Susan Glaspell’s “Trifles‚” elements such as setting‚ personality‚ and behavior are used to set the mood for this crime story. In this story‚ a woman is being accused of killing her husband‚ and what better than a play to act out such a thing. I feel that through the use of actions‚ costumes‚ and props‚ the visual elements in this play really help to bring out this murder mystery to life. In the beginning of the play‚ the scene starts out with the description of the house and its kitchen
Premium Susan Glaspell Woman Black-and-white films
Trifles (1916) by Susan Glaspell The central action in the play “Trifles” is the murder of Mr. Wright. While the men search the house for clues to prove that Mrs. Wright was the culprit‚ the women start taking notice of the drab condition of their surroundings in the kitchen. As the men pass through during their investigation they stop momentarily to fling sexist comments toward the women. For example: “Well‚ women are used to worrying over trifles”‚ which ties directly into the origin of the play’s
Premium
During the era of neoclassicism are many readings based off of this particular philosophy. Succinctly and effectively‚ in order that specific ideas get across‚ many authors incorporate general principles that have the ability to catch the public eye. They do this in hopes of the reader taking these principles from the work‚ and applying it to everyday life. Because society plays a huge role during this time‚ these readings are designed to inform people on how to live their life in an effective and
Premium Neoclassicism Sociology Literature
Susan Glaspell’s work in “Trifles” displays many attributes among women such as independence and freedom. I quickly noticed that Glaspell’s work is very similar to Kate Chopin’s because both of them express equality between men and women. In “Trifles” one can see how a woman’s role in the early nineteenth century meant absolutely nothing. Men like Mr. Wright‚ Mr. Hale and the Sheriff acted and talked as if they were superior to all women. Through Glaspell’s “Trifles‚” one is able to grasp the realities
Premium Gender Susan Glaspell Female
Throughout history it is shown that women have been looked down upon by men. They have been considered inferior to the opposite sex and even as a form of property. “Trifles” take place in 1916 where the rights of women are yet to be stated a place that is ruled by the paterfamilias‚ the men. Only men knew what was right‚ only men knew what was best for their families. Men criticized women a lot and made fun of them. Men do not understand the difficulty of these duties and the hard working hours that
Premium Gender Susan Glaspell Female
1. Diction Diction is very important in the given passage from Trifles‚ it contributes to characterization and plot in multiple ways‚ making for a better piece of literary work. By using diction in this passage the writer was able to portray the characters very well due to the images of the characters that are clearly formed in the readers’ minds. Through diction and characterization we are able to get too know Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters and realize that they are two very different individuals. We
Premium Fiction Short story The Reader
In the play Trifles gender plays a huge part. When the detectives were looking for evidence or "motives" of why Mrs. Wright killed her husband they often times belittled the women. As the women searched for the small things that contributed to Mr. Wright’s death the men were looking at the bigger picture. In the end because the men brushed the women off‚ not taking into consideration their advice‚ the women ended up finding the real motive while the detectives totally missed it. In the play Fences
Premium Gender Woman Marriage