Drama Essay : Trifles - Susan Glaspell

Running Head: DRAMA ESSAY
Drama Essay
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

DRAMA ESSAY1
Trifles- Susan Glaspell
“Trifles” by Susan Glaspell was first performed in the year 1916, on 8 August and is
considered to be the product of the Early twentieth-century Women’s movement in the school of
feminism which saw a steady rise in the women literature depicting the social inequality and
suppression bore by the women in the society.
Glaspell was one of the ardent writers who reflected in her writings the different modes
of injustice in society and the way women are treated and positioned in society. The theme of the
play is evident with the usage of the women character and their view of the whole plot. The play
consists of a single scene showing the stagnation in society when it comes to women. The central
figure of the narrative is Mrs Wright who has been accused of the murder of her husband and has
been put behind bars for it. The lack of importance given to her in her own household shows the
lack of recognition given to her (Glaspell). Mr Wright, though dead was given more importance
by the sheriff and he did not want to waste his time listening about the wife pleating her apron.
The conflict of the play comes in the face of the two spouses of the men who followed
them to the scene of the crime and could feel the suffering of the women by observing the
condition of the house. Mrs Hale and Mrs Peters are in sympathy with Mrs Wright, who had to
live with an ill-tempered person and how she has changed after her marriage. Though, they
understand the situation which could have led to the murder; they admit that the punishment
meted out to her is fair on the basis of the legality. The conflict arises when we see both the
women hiding the strangled bird from the men and decides to dispose of the body without
informing anyone (Glaspell). The trivial nature of observation given to the little things lying
around the house shows the lack of importance given to the crime which reflected through them
done against Mrs Wright.