The Play Trifles

The Play 'Trifles'

Introduction

The play Trifles is the written by Susan Glaspell in 1916. It was based on the true story happened in the Iowa. The author reflects the culture and society through this play and depicted through the play that the society in 1916 was male dominating. She highlighted that there was clear gender discrimination where women were not granted with the equal rights. Women at that time were considered as trifles, having no importance in the society as well as in homes. This play portrays a psychological impact of discrimination and biasness on women.

Discussion

Setting of the play

Trifles was published in the 19th century in 1916. At the time, the women were not granted with any right in US. The role of women was limited to home primarily to the kitchen. The play was taken place in winter. The action took place in the kitchen, and the setting for the play was miserable and neglected in the rural farm house, in the "American Midwest".

Characters in the play

The descriptions of characters in the play are as following:

George Henderson: he was the country attorney. He investigated the whole case of murder and searches out clues to present in the court trial.

Sheriff Henry Peters: he was a county lawman who confined Mrs. Wright in the jail.

Lewis Hale: He was the neighbor farmer of Mr. Wright. He complaints about the Mrs. Wright to the county attorney and Sheriff. He found the body of Mr. Wright in the farmhouse.

Mrs. Hale: she was the wife of Mr. Hale. She with the Sheriff's wife found the clues about the murder through minor items of the kitchen.

Mrs. Peter: she was the wife of Sheriff.

John Wright: he was the victim of the murder by his wife. He was actually a farmer who was a good, dutiful man, but at the same time he was a hard man. He always neglected his wife. He kept her limited to the kitchen and home chores. He prevented her from singing.

Minnie Wright: she was the wife of John Wright and the convict of the murder. According to play, the husband of Minnie Wright made her life hell and miserable. The protagonist of the play was found to be Mrs. Wright while the antagonist was Mr. Wright.

Summary of the play trifles by Susan Glaspell

The play Trifles was the creation of Susan Glaspell. It was written in 1916. The play took place in a house in a rural farm house of Mr. and Mrs. Wright. The play starts with the scene when six people entered into the house for investigation including three men; Mr. Hale, the Sheriff, and the County Attorney with the three women that include; Mrs. Hale, Mrs. Peter and Sheriff's wife. All of them observed the messy condition of the home such as dirty dished in the kitchen, loaf of bread on the kitchen counter. The suspect of the murder Mrs. Wright was in the police custody. One day before that investigation, Mr. Hale came to meet ...