Irony And Symbolism In Trifles By Susan Glaspell

“Trifles”, a one act play written by Susan Glaspell, is about a woman named Mrs. Wright who is suspected of murdering her husband, John. Throughout this play, Glaspell uses symbolism, irony, and the setting of the play and draw the readers in. The men investigating the scene are unable to solve the crime due to the fact that each piece of evidence is a domestic item that is generally specific to women. However, the two women that are also involved throughout this scene begin to pick up on these clues as the story progresses. Collectively the use of irony, the setting, and symbolism portray the ideals and attitudes of the characters giving the play's ending a deeper meaning. Throughout the play, Glaspell uses different symbols to give the readers a better understand of the characters. One of the objects she includes is a broken bird cage which represents the broken marriage between the Wrights. It also symbolizes how Mrs. Wright was trapped within the marriage and could never reveal her husband's true nature. The broken door represents Mrs. Wright finally being freed from the abusive grip
The play itself is framed in situational irony as the male investigators leave the women in the kitchen to look for evidence upstairs. The women that are in the house begin to discover pieces of evidence that the male investigators are unable to pick up on because the objects are those that tend to be associated with a woman. This begins to develop a sense of irony because two women that know nothing about solving a crime scene are able to pick up on these items which the men investigating the case are unable to. Irony is also found when Mrs. Wright begins to worry about her fruit preserves while she is under investigation for murder. Irony can be used to entertain the reader with its great comedic value. Susan Glaspell is able to use this tool throughout the play to add comic relief to a somewhat serious