The Name "Trifles" and Its Significance
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 see the meaning of the word “trifles” and the reasons behind why it is an appropriate title. You can first start to figure out the word’s meaning shortly after the play begins. Mrs. Peters tells the men that Mrs. Wright is worried about her fruit jars breaking during the cold winter night. Mr. Peters, who is the sheriff, responses with, “Well, you can beat the woman! Held for murder and worryin’ about her preserves” (1369). Mr. Hale states, “ Well, women are used to worrying over trifles” (1369). Mr. Hale and Mr. Peters refer to Mrs. Wright worrying about the fruit preserves as something of little importance compared to being held for murder. The County Attorney, George Henderson, judges Mrs. Wright of being a poor housekeeper when he tells everyone else, “Not much of a housekeeper, would you say ladies?” (1369). He is criticizing Mrs. Wright instead of thinking about how this small detail can help solve the investigation. The kitchen is considered to be a woman’s domain, so the men look everywhere else but there and the living room. The wives notice the quilt; Mrs. Hales mentions to Mrs. Peters,” …look at this sewing! All the rest of it has been so nice and even, And look at this! It’s all over the place! Why, it looks as if she didn’t know what she was about” (1371). The women worry over the small things around the house; the women are able to figure out the motive of why Mrs. Wright killed her husband, because of all the small, simple details they discovered. Trifles
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 see the meaning of the word “trifles” and the reasons behind why it is an appropriate title. You can first start to figure out the word’s meaning shortly after the play begins. Mrs. Peters tells the men that Mrs. Wright is worried about her fruit jars breaking during the cold winter night. Mr. Peters, who is the sheriff, responses with, “Well, you can beat the woman! Held for murder and worryin’ about her preserves” (1369). Mr. Hale states, “ Well, women are used to worrying over trifles” (1369). Mr. Hale and Mr. Peters refer to Mrs. Wright worrying about the fruit preserves as something of little importance compared to being held for murder. The County Attorney, George Henderson, judges Mrs. Wright of being a poor housekeeper when he tells everyone else, “Not much of a housekeeper, would you say ladies?” (1369). He is criticizing Mrs. Wright instead of thinking about how this small detail can help solve the investigation. The kitchen is considered to be a woman’s domain, so the men look everywhere else but there and the living room. The wives notice the quilt; Mrs. Hales mentions to Mrs. Peters,” …look at this sewing! All the rest of it has been so nice and even, And look at this! It’s all over the place! Why, it looks as if she didn’t know what she was about” (1371). The women worry over the small things around the house; the women are able to figure out the motive of why Mrs. Wright killed her husband, because of all the small, simple details they discovered. Trifles