Trifles: Summary of Symbolism and Gender Roles in Play

Chapter 1 Trifles Summary

Trifles is a one-act play written by Susan Glaspell in 1916. It is a murder mystery that explores the lives of two women, Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale, as they investigate the murder of John Wright. Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale accompany the county attorney, the sheriff, and Mr. Hale to the Wrights' farmhouse to collect evidence and search for clues.

As the men search the house for evidence, Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale notice small details that the men overlook. They discover a dead canary that belonged to Mrs. Wright, and they realize that Mr. Wright may have killed the bird, which may have led to his wife's eventual murder. Through their observations and conversations, Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale piece together the events that led to Mrs. Wright's decision to kill her husband.

In the end, Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale decide to conceal the evidence they found, ultimately siding with Mrs. Wright and showing empathy for her difficult circumstances. The play highlights the theme of gender roles and the marginalization of women in society, as Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale's perspective is dismissed by the male characters.

Trifles has been praised for its exploration of gender dynamics and its use of symbolism, as the title refers to the seemingly insignificant details that the women notice but that ultimately provide a vital clue in solving the murder.

Chapter 2 Trifles Meaning

"Trifles" by Susan Glaspell is a play that explores themes of gender roles, power dynamics, and the nature of justice. The title itself refers to the small, seemingly insignificant details that are often overlooked and dismissed by men, but are of great significance to the women in the play.

The play follows a group of characters investigating a murder in a rural farmhouse, and focuses on the women in the group who uncover crucial evidence that the men overlook. Through their exploration of the "trifles" in the farmhouse, the women are able to piece together the truth of what really happened, ultimately leading to a powerful statement on the importance of paying attention to the perspectives and experiences of women.

Overall, "Trifles" is a thought-provoking play that challenges traditional gender norms and highlights the importance of considering all perspectives in the search for justice. It serves as a reminder of the importance of listening to marginalized voices and recognizing the value of seemingly small details in understanding the truth.

Chapter 3 Quotes of Trifles

Trifles quotes as follows:

1. "I know what stillness is. When the sheriff came up with the law, it got into his head that maybe that girl that was half crazy with her scare and looking and a-living by herself damn near alone is where the answer to the mystery is."

2. "I guess the law has got to punish crime, Mary. But the lying to them that he loved don't seem like a crime beyond punishment. Though that girl's life must have been don't seem wrong to me."

3. "It looks like you used to have knitted once and such things. It don't seem right for such everyday jobs more than being here for housekeeping."

4. "Listen to what that dead girl's trifle dug up to save that man's life. The rope around his neck and she around that girl's neck. The minute you talked like you'd done it all right."

5. "We ain't going to get out of the house for a long time, Sheriff, not till them men come back and give you a piece of their minds."

 

Book https://www.bookey.app/book/trifles

Author https://www.bookey.app/quote-author/susan-glaspell

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVIrdDHLRPU

Amazom https://www.amazon.com/-/zh/dp/1494891220

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1033755.Trifles?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=AFqJZqI3q1&rank=1