Trifles By Susan Glaspell Sparknotes

John Wright, a farmer from a small country town, is found murdered in his bed; a thick piece of rope is bound tightly around his neck. His wife, a peaceful and passive woman, is held as a suspect for the unlawful death. The killing baffles investigators; although a gun is established in the home, the weapon of John Wright’s demise is a piece of rope (Glaspell 5). This intriguing murder-mystery is the plot of the one-act play, Trifles, which was written in 1918 by Susan Glaspell. The tragedy is loosely based on a true story Glaspell covered while working as a journalist in 1900 (Reuben 4). The principle theme of the play draws attention to mind-sets, moods, and misconceptions associated with social roles of men and women during this era; men
frequently thought themselves intellectually superior to women and withdrew from illusorily feminine associations, which men deemed unimportant matters. The irony of the play’s title results in the men’s disregard for vital information they feel are trifles. However, it is only within these presumed trivialities that they would find evidence proving Mrs. Wright’s motive; the County Attorney believes the key to building a case against Mrs. Wright rests on the discovery of her motive. Furthermore, it could be argued that the irrelevant matters to which the men assign their attention, are trifles of the investigation. An individual’s perspective commonly affects perception, and perception influences actions, response, and emotions. Additionally, what may seem small and trifle, may actually be of the utmost importance; small things matter.
History has demonstrated an oppressive existence for women throughout civilization.
The misjudgment of women’s inferiority to men date back as far as 451 BC; the ancient Roman civilization created a Code of Law called, The Twelve Tables (Adams 1). In table five, under legal guardianship, the decree stated, “Our ancestors saw fit that “females, by reason of levity of disposition, shall remain in guardianship, even when they have attained their majority” (Adams 1). Levity of disposition meant that women lacked the ability to think intelligently about serious matters. One definition defines the word levity as “trifling gayety” (Babylon 1). The term, “remaining in guardianship”, fated women to be in their husbands control without the legal ability to make their own decisions, much like children. The phrase, “attained their majority”, was the age at which women would normally be in control of their own lives. This early patriarchal viewpoint was a shared belief throughout many cultures and ages that followed. During the early history of the United States, husbands owned his wife and children much like possessions. Women had not greatly improved their status by the early twentieth century, where a male-dominated society had a similar perspective as they did in colonial days; learning to be a suitable wife was to be a woman’s principal education (NWHM 1). This primitive attitude toward women is continuously reflected throughout the play Trifles, as the men persistently express
themselves through patronizing comments directed toward the women. The governance of men can be seen as the women are addressed only by their married names, while the men are regularly called by their given names. Additionally, men did not commonly consider their wife’s wishes. This general impression is perceived when Mr. Hale mentions to the County Attorney that he stopped by the Wright’s home to see if Mrs. Wright could convince her husband to split a party telephone line. However, Mr. Hale concluded, “…I didn’t know as what his wife wanted made much difference to John –” (Glaspell). This disrespect, coupled with the growing empathy for Mrs. Wright, provided the inspiration which prompted the actions of the women, and directs the stories end.
As the story opens, the division between the men and women is apparent; the Sheriff, County Attorney, and the neighbor Mr. Hale enter the untidy kitchen of Mr. and Mrs. Wright. Mrs. Hale and the Sheriff’s wife, Mrs. Peters follows. They linger back, standing near each other (Glaspell 1). After the County Attorney questions Mr. Hale, he and the Sheriff decide that they will search upstairs in the bedroom where the murder took place. They also agree to check the barn, most likely because that is where the rope presumably was attained to commit the crime. The men’s preconceptions about gender roles is evident in the play as the County Attorney confirms with the Sheriff, “…You’re convinced that there was nothing important here – nothing that would point to any motive.” The Sheriff replies, “Nothing here but kitchen things” (Glaspell 3). Before the men retreat upstairs, the County Attorney glances around the kitchen, and decides to stand on a chair to look on a shelf. “Here’s a nice mess,” he says, pulling away a sticky hand. The women draw closer to look. Compassionately, Mrs. Peters comments to Mrs. Hale, “Oh, her fruit; it did freeze,” She expressed how Mrs. Wright had worried about her fruit freezing when it became cold, because her jars might break (Glaspell 3). “Well, can you beat the women! Held for murder and worryin’ about her preserves,” said the Sheriff. The County Attorney responded, “I guess before we’re through she may have something more serious than preserves to worry about.” Mr. Hale interjected, “Well, women are used to worrying over trifles” (Glaspell 3). Upon Mr. Hale’s comment, the women move even closer together, displaying support for one another. The County Attorney’s judgmental comments about Mrs. Wright’s ability to be a good homemaker, offends Mrs. Hale, who quickly points out the fact that farming is hard work and men are not as neat as they should be. “Ah, loyal to your sex, I see,” comments the County Attorney (Glaspell). The women were not trying to be senseless over insignificant matters, they were merely considering the long hours and hard work it took to can jars of fruit. Later, the men can be found making fun of the women for discussing a quilt Mrs. Wright was sewing and whether or not she planned to knot or quilt. As the men continue to make critical remarks, the women begin to unite. But while Mrs. Hale is offended by the men’s comments from the beginning of the story, Mrs. Peters can be found defending their behavior. For instance, on one occasion she stated apologetically, “Of course they’ve got awful important things on their minds.” However, a separation of loyalty shifts in a new direction as the women discuss and discover the truth.
While the County Attorney and Sheriff went about their search for clues, the women uncover evidence to Mrs. Wright’s motive. They find a quilt with beautifully sewn log-cabin style patches; the last patch Mrs. Wright had been sewing was chaotic in comparison to the intricate work of the other patches. This suggested that Mrs. Wright might have been distressed while she was sewing (Glaspell 6). Soon after, they find a bird cage with a broken hinge on the door. They pondered why she would have a bird cage without a bird, but Mrs. Hale remembered when a canary salesman came around and decided that Mrs. Wright must have bought a bird at that time. The women wondered what happened to the canary. Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale continued to chat about how lovely it must have been for Mrs. Wright to have a bird sing to her, in such a lonely situation. Though the town deemed John Wright, “a good man”, the women knew that paying your debt and not being a drunkard was not necessarily an accurate description of a good man (Glaspell 7). In truth, he was a very hard man who did not like to talk much, preferring peace and quiet. Mrs. Hale commented about what it must have been like to be around Mr. Wright, “…just to pass the time of day with him – (shivers), like a raw wind that gets to the bone (Glaspell 7). Mrs. Hale remembered Mrs. Wright before she was married, “I wish you’d seen Minnie Foster when she wore a white dress with blue ribbons and stood up there in the choir and sang” (Glaspell 9). Minnie Foster’s joyful disposition displayed an entirely different women from the disheartened Mrs. Wright; the change in Mrs. Wright’s character implicates that the once lively person was crushed by the weight of oppression during her marriage. The women are sympathetic to Minnie Foster and decide to take her some quilting supplies to keep her mind off her circumstances. As they look through the basket of patches, they come upon a sewing tin. Hoping to find scissors, they open the tin; both women are disturbed to find a dead canary with a wrung neck. Just as the women discover the bird, the men enter the room, and the County Attorney asks, “Well ladies, have you decided if she was going to quilt it or knot it” Mrs. Peter’s replies, “We think she was going to – knot it (Glaspell 8). Soon after, the men leave the room again. The women awkwardly deliberate over the evidence. “Wouldn’t the men laugh if they heard us getting stirred up over a little thing like a dead canary” (Glaspell 9). The women reflect on their own past experiences which quickly heighten their understanding of what life must have been like for Mrs. Wright. They realize that Mrs. Wright endured a great deal of suffering at the hands of Mr. Wright. The last torment for Minnie Wright, was when he wrung the bird’s neck; the one thing in her life that gave her joy. She must have been sewing on the quilt when it happened, because the chaotic patch displayed signs of anger. It was more than she could bare. The women hear the men coming and make a quick decision to hide the evidence. Mrs. Peters quickly grabs the tin and tries to hide it in her purse, but it wouldn’t fit. She tries to take out the bird, but becomes paralyzed with fear. Mrs. Hale intervenes and grabs the bird and quickly places it in her coat pocket (Glaspell). The women worked together to hide evidence to protect Mrs. Wright. They had come to the same assumption; justice would not be served if Mrs. Wright went to jail. In conclusion, Glaspell delivers a feminist message to her female readers; it is not a radical feminist message, but more of a solidarity between women, highlighting the oppression women have endured because of sexist practices.
Glaspell stresses the importance of unity and the power it yields. The irony of the play’s title, Trifles, stems from the men’s perspective of what they consider important information. As a result, the men disregard the most valuable evidence, which they considered trifle. This key evidence would have proven Mrs. Wright’s motive. In the end of the play, the Sheriff asks the County Attorney if he wants to look at the items Mrs. Peters is removing from the home. The County Attorney lightly moves a few pieces around and then
determines,
“Oh, I guess they’re not very dangerous things the ladies have picked out … No, Mrs. Peters doesn’t need supervising. For that matter, a sheriff’s wife is married to the law …” (Glaspell 10).
The County Attorney then directs a question to the Sheriff’s wife, “Ever think of it that way, Mrs. Peters?” She replies, “Not – just that way” (Glaspell 10). Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters understanding and empathy grew for Mrs. Wright as the women bonded over shared commonalities. They began to see Minnie Foster as a victim. The women’s decision to hide evidence reflects their perspective of law and justice. The men’s bias hindered their investigation, costing them key evidence which would have proved Mrs. Wright’s motive. An individual’s perspective commonly affects perception, and perception influences actions, response, and emotions. Additionally, what may seem small and trifle, may actually be of the utmost importance; small things matter.