Susan Glaspell’s Trifles is a play that was written in 1916. The play is about the murder of John Wright, and the events that take place after his death. One of the main characters in the play is Mrs. Hale, who is the wife of the sheriff. Mrs. Hale is a loyal wife and friend, and she does everything she can to help Susan Wright during her time of need.
One of the most important scenes in the play is when Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters are in the kitchen, and they discover that Susan Wright has hidden some of her husband’s belongings. Mrs. Hale immediately understands why Susan did this, and she knows that Susan is not responsible for her husband’s death. Mrs. Hale is a loyal friend and wife, and she remains by Susan’s side until the end.
Susan Glaspell’s Trifles is an important play because it shows the importance of loyalty. Mrs. Hale is a loyal wife and friend, and she does everything she can to help Susan Wright during her time of need. Susan Wright is grateful for all the help that Mrs. Hale provides, and the two women eventually become close friends. Susan Glaspell’s Trifles is a play about the power of friendship and loyalty, and it is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand these important concepts.
The central notion I want to express has to do with how Mrs. Hale supports Mrs. Wright, even though it appears that everyone else, particularly (the men), would rather lock her up and throw away the key. When she becomes involved in arguing with the County Attorney about Mrs. Wright’s domestic cleaning, we see this immediately.
Mrs. Hale is also the one who insists on looking for the bird in order to prove that Mrs. Wright wasn’t just crazy. She even goes as far as to say that she doesnt think Mrs. Wright did it and wouldnt be surprised if it was someone else.
What I think this shows us is that Mrs. Hale is a very loyal person. She’s not going to turn her back on someone just because other people are doing it or because its easier that way. Even when it seems like everyone is against her, Mrs. Hale stays strong in her beliefs and supports Mrs. Wright until the end. This makes her a very admirable character and someone worth looking up to.
Then we move on to the sections where the women discuss Mrs. Peters encounters with the other ladies in town. Mrs. Hale stated that she was not a member of the Ladies Aid (which seemed like the role for women in that community), and that she dressed poorly, which she had never done before being Mr. Wright’s wife.
Mrs. Peters said that she stopped being invited to the ladies Aid meetings after she got married, and that the other women in town don’t like her much. Mrs. Hale then says that she supposes it is because Mrs. Wright doesn’t bake pies like they do, and isn’t as interested in ‘womanly things’.
Mrs. Peters defense of Mrs. Wright is admirable, despite never having met her before. She bases her opinion on the little interaction she has had with her, and sticks up for her when the other women are talking about her behind her back. This shows true loyalty to Mrs. Wright, even though they haven’t met. Susan Glaspell does a great job portraying the loyalty of Mrs. Hale through this dialogue.
Hale’s existence is instrumental in solving Mr. Wright’s homicide. Her personality represents all that a member of the jury should have. She is non-critical, cooperative, and trustworthy.
Mrs. Hale demonstrates her cooperative nature when she agrees to help Mrs. Peters sort through the wright’s belongings. Even though Mrs. Wright was not close to her, Hale does not hesitate to offer assistance. Her loyalty is evident when she defends Mrs. Wright despite the other’s accusations. Hale proves that she is willing to look past Mrs. Wright’s shortcomings and focus on the good qualities that she possesses. This ultimately leads to a more accurate depiction of the victim and allows for a more successful investigation into his death.
Perhaps the most prominent motif in Trifles is the distinction between men and women. The two sexes are defined by their roles in society, their physicality, their communication methods, and—crucial to the play’s narrative—their powers of observation.
While the men are concerned with tangible evidence and the solving of a crime, the women are attuned to the emotional lives of those around them and the significance of seemingly insignificant objects.
One of the most important manifestations of this theme is the difference in how Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters view their roles as women. Mrs. Hale is a traditional wife and mother whose primary concern is her household and her family. She is loyal to her husband and does not question his authority. By contrast, Mrs. Peters is unmarried and has no children.
She is a higher-up in the county government and is used to dealing with men on an equal footing. As a result, she is more questioning and independent than Mrs. Hale. This difference in perspective is most clearly seen in their discussion of the quilt. Mrs. Hale is reluctant to cut the quilt, because it is a family heirloom and she doesn’t want to damage it. Mrs. Peters, on the other hand, understands that the quilt is evidence and needs to be preserved.
Ultimately, Susan Glaspell’s Trifles illustrates the importance of female perspective in society. While men are focused on solving a crime, women are able to see the bigger picture and understand the emotional lives of those around them. This difference in perspective is vital to the plot of the play and ultimately leads to the discovery of crucial evidence.
When the men overhear the women talking about Mrs. Wrights quilt, wondering if she was going to quilt or knot it, and they laugh at them, this is another important moment in the play. Mrs. Hale is enraged by their attitude immediately after being informed that Mr. Tolliver had been killed; whereas Mrs. Peters apologises for them because “they have a lot on their minds”. But they still had time to make fun of the ladies.
Mrs. Hale is loyal to her friend Mrs. Wright, and doesn’t want the men to think poorly of her. She is willing to protect her friend even if it means defending her in a way that makes no sense. Mrs. Peters is loyal to Mrs. Hale and follows her lead. Together, they are able to show their loyalty to each other and their friendship despite the circumstances.
Susan Glaspell’s Trifles explores the loyalty between women during a time where their relationships were not taken as seriously as they are now. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters are two women who have been friends for a long time, and they are able to rely on each other during this difficult time.
They are able to communicate without words and support each other through their actions. The loyalty between these two women is very strong, and it is clear that they will be there for each other no matter what. Susan Glaspell’s Trifles is a powerful exploration of the bonds between women, and it is still relevant today.
