Trifles Gender Conflict

In the play Trifles, there seems to be one conflict that stays consistent through the entire play. The conflict of gender roles between male and female. The play itself is about the investigation and murder of Mr. Wright. Who has been found dead in his bed that looks to be a murder from a rope around his neck. The play takes place where the body was found, inside the Wrights household. Investigating is County Attorney George Henderson, and Sheriff Henry Peters. Included in the play also is Lewis Hale a neighboring farmer, and the wives of Mr. Peters and Mr. Hale. The background of the play was written by Susan Glaspell in 1916 as a woman sensitive to feminist issues. An apparent reason of why gender conflict is so evident through the entire play. From the very start of the play you can see the separation between make and female. “The women have come in slowly, and stand close together near the door,” (1366) Susan Glaspell has a very good writing style in her stage direction of giving the play a suspenseful feel. From the very first line of the play you can see the separation between male and female, “This feels good. Come up to the fire, ladies.” Says the County Attorney, “I’m not-cold,” responds Mrs. Peters.”(1367) Intriguing and thoughtful the conflict continues directly after, “not much of a housekeeper, would you say ladies?” says Hale, “Theirs is a great deal of work to be done on a farm,” Mrs. Hale replies and goes on to say “Men’s hands aren’t always as clean as they might be.” (1369)Continuously throughout the play the women when asked for opinions defend their sex. They stand their ground multiple times, as if Susan Glaspell is trying to get men of her time to view life through a woman’s eyes and the bias differences. The men finish their investigation up downstairs and proceed upstairs to leave the ladies to collect and check on some things at the request of Mrs. Wright. The minute the men leave Mrs. Hale states, “I’d hate to have men coming into