Susan Glaspell Trifles Defense

Trifles Defense Critic Essay A critic once said, “Trifles is a lousy play. By the third page we know who dun it, so there isn’t much reason to sit through the rest of the play.” This statement is a closed minded opinion. Susan Glaspell, the author of “Trifles”, does depict the murderer in this detective story but leaves the audience sitting in question of the motive for the mariticide. The play “Trifles” is an interesting and a great play because it offers questionable motives, the truth of the power between sexes, and has a historical impact. A detective story is based on three points of view which are method, opportunity, and motive. The obvious murderer, Mrs. Wright, indicates her method for mariticide when she tells her neighboring farmer Mr. Hale, “He died of a rope around his neck” (Glaspell pg 1227). The opportunity for this madness was indicated when Mr. Wright was found dead in his bedroom. Mrs. Wright clearly strangled her husband in his sleep. The method and opportunity were presented
but the method was mysterious. There were many clues that were discovered by the women which could depict different possible motives for murder. One possibility could be the dead bird that Mr. Wright had strangled. Mrs. Wright could have had a close bond with the bird considering that she never had any children, so when her husband strangled the bird to death she might have felt it necessary to do the same to him. Another argument could be that Mrs. Wright had a psychological problem going on. Mrs. Hale, Mrs. Wrights’ neighbor, described Mrs. Wright by saying, “She- come to think of it, she was like a bird herself- real sweet and pretty, but kind of timid and- fluttery. How- she- did- change” (Glaspell pg 1233). Mrs. Wright was also in the choir and had an amazing voice. Her husband took her out of the choir and had her at home. With all these changes it could have created major psychological issues for her. Like the canary, they both were trapped, and by killing her husband she was set free from the bondage of her husband. At the ending of the play Mr. Henderson, the county attorney, didn’t have any evidence to indicate any motive for the murder of Mr. Wright. Though there were clues the women had found that suggested a motive, the women did not divulge the information to the men. In this one act play, there were many references to the men’s view and power-control over women. Throughout the play the characters are looking for clues to come up with a motive to why Mrs. Wright would murder her husband. During the investigation Mr. Hale states, “Well, women are used to worrying over trifles” (Glaspell pg 1228). The men are snooping around the house looking for big clues and didn’t find any, while the women are finding small clues and just enough clues that could be used for theories for a motive. In turn, the women who are “worrying over trifles” are the ones who found all the clues towards a motive. This statement shows the power trip that the men have over women. During this time women didn’t have as many rights as they do today. Women were seen as housekeepers according towards Mr. Henderson as he asks, “Not much of a house keeper, would you say, ladies?” (Glaspell pg 1228). The men looked in the kitchen and saw dirty towels, untidiness, and disarray. The men don’t look deeper into the clutter; however, the women see the true meaning of this. In this era there is a lot of sexism and comments which would be demeaning towards women today. In the very beginning of the play there is separation between the men and women. The men enter the house first then the women enter last, slowly, sticking together. Normally a husband would enter with their wife or would open the door for the ladies. None of these occurred though. Not only does the power of the male sex have a theme in the play but has a huge impact in history as well. “Trifles” was written in 1916 which was before the 19th Amendment was ratified allowing women to vote which started the women’s rights movement.
This would explain why the men treated the women differently and placed them a “higher pedestal” over them. What makes this play so intriguing is that this play was based on actual events. The author, Susan Glaspell, was actually a reporter for the Des Moines News and covered a story on a murder trial on a farmer’s wife, Margaret Hossack. Mrs. Hossack was accused of murdering her husband by striking him twice in the head with an ax while he slept. In December 20 of 1910 she was found guilty of the charges and sentenced to life in prison. Susan Glaspell wrote twenty six articles covering this case over the next sixteen months. During her exploration in this case she found that Mr. Hossack was an abusive husband and father. Susan Glaspell later wrote this play and a short story based on this case called “A jury of her
peers.” Even though the audience knew who murdered Mr. Wright, the play is still a great play for the different aspects of it. This play represents a different historical era of life and many people can see the differences between the early 1900’s era and today. This play isn’t about who murdered the husband, instead this great play offers the chance for the audience to think about the motive for the murder based on the clues found and offers the chance to learn about the trifles of the play such as the power struggle between men and women and the historical impact this play has. This play is an exceptionally intriguing play that allows the audience to think for themselves, not only about the play but life itself.