Feminist Criticism
Reedie Garrett
Professor Andrade
English 1302 WS6
14 February 2015
The Little Things Feminist criticism is the way that literature portrays the oppression of women. Therefore, many women rose to fight patriarchy society, which gave roles to each of its members. Women were only briefly part of the social role and were mainly given the reproductive role that confined them to raising children and taking care of their households and husbands. Susan Glaspell, a writer in the early twentieth century, lived in that time. This is shown through her play “Trifles.” Glaspell adds distinct details to the play that allowed it to sympathize and speak up for women. A feminist analysis of Glaspell’s "Trifles" highlights thoroughly these details through the title, the characters, the roles, and the theme. To begin with, in any literary work, the title helps in reinforcing the work's theme and understanding the text better. In Trifles, the title suggests that the play talks about insignificant and superficial theme or action. However, the truth is far from that. In the play, the two women, Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale, who are only brought along with the sheriff and attorney to retrieve some items for a wife Mrs. Wright, also known as Minnie foster is accused for killing her husband, Mr. Wright, are the ones who actually find the evidence to indict the accused. In Trifles, the title is ironic as the reader sees what is silly and "trifle" to men, is the key for solving the murder. There are two main female characters in Trifles. They are Mrs. Hale and
Mrs. Peters. They come to a farmhouse to gather some things for Mrs. Wright. Mrs. Hale is her neighbor and the wife of Mr. Hale who discovers Mr. Wright’s body. Mrs.
Peters is the sheriff’s wife. While the rest of the characters have an actual role in the play, Mr. and Mrs. Wright, who are the main focus of the play, are only referred to through the dialogue of the other characters. The story starts with the entering of the county
Professor Andrade
English 1302 WS6
14 February 2015
The Little Things Feminist criticism is the way that literature portrays the oppression of women. Therefore, many women rose to fight patriarchy society, which gave roles to each of its members. Women were only briefly part of the social role and were mainly given the reproductive role that confined them to raising children and taking care of their households and husbands. Susan Glaspell, a writer in the early twentieth century, lived in that time. This is shown through her play “Trifles.” Glaspell adds distinct details to the play that allowed it to sympathize and speak up for women. A feminist analysis of Glaspell’s "Trifles" highlights thoroughly these details through the title, the characters, the roles, and the theme. To begin with, in any literary work, the title helps in reinforcing the work's theme and understanding the text better. In Trifles, the title suggests that the play talks about insignificant and superficial theme or action. However, the truth is far from that. In the play, the two women, Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale, who are only brought along with the sheriff and attorney to retrieve some items for a wife Mrs. Wright, also known as Minnie foster is accused for killing her husband, Mr. Wright, are the ones who actually find the evidence to indict the accused. In Trifles, the title is ironic as the reader sees what is silly and "trifle" to men, is the key for solving the murder. There are two main female characters in Trifles. They are Mrs. Hale and
Mrs. Peters. They come to a farmhouse to gather some things for Mrs. Wright. Mrs. Hale is her neighbor and the wife of Mr. Hale who discovers Mr. Wright’s body. Mrs.
Peters is the sheriff’s wife. While the rest of the characters have an actual role in the play, Mr. and Mrs. Wright, who are the main focus of the play, are only referred to through the dialogue of the other characters. The story starts with the entering of the county