Literary Review of Susan Glaspell's "Trifles"

Literary Review of Susan Glaspell's "Trifles" Susan Glaspell's play "Trifles" is based on a true story and was written in 1916. Glaspell's "Trifles" demonstrates the male-dominated society and how women were overlooked and had limited rights in the 19th century through symbolism. The play took place in winter in the abandoned kitchen of John Wright. Mr. Wright is a farmer and was murdered in the middle of the night as he lay asleep. The prime suspect for the crime was John Wright's wife, Minnie Wright. Although Mrs. Wright claims that someone slipped a rope round his head and strangled him, Mrs. Wright had the most motive in the murder of her husband. Although the men search around the house looking for necessary evidences, the men failed to do so as they neglected the women's comments and the "little things" which were the answers to solve the crime. Mr. Hale says "Women are used to worrying over trifles" but it was the women who were able to solve the case because it is in the "trifles" that the answers lay. The title "Trifles", meaning "a thing of little value, significance or importance" suggests three different meanings in the play. The first one is "Trifles" as evidences in the murder of John Wright, the second one is "Trifles" representing the life of Minnie, and the third one is "Trifles" referring to the two women in the play. Although Susan Glaspell chose the perfect title for her play, she also implies that the true essence of "trifles" only makes sense to the men as these "trifles" are not seen as of little value to the female perspective. The "kitchen things" that the men refer to as "trifles" were the final clues to Minnie Wright's motive in killing her husband. Minnie Wright's life was just a "trifle" to John Wright and the reason for her existence has been taken away. No one cared about her until the murder happened. Despite the fact Mrs. Hale knew how miserable Minnie Wright's married life was, she did not do anything to save her from the