The Use of Symbols in Susan Glaspell’s Play Trifles

In the nineteenth century until the twentieth century, women lived under men’s shadows. In that time, inequality between genders was the most obvious thing that characterized the society. Women’s role was guided by men and was simply related to their domestic environment; nothing but a caring wife and a busy mother. Unlike now, men looked at women as machines that had to provide comfort and mind relax to their husbands even if their husbands did not provide that to them. To be specific, society in that time took the women’s right away from them; they cannot be what they want to be. However, in this Era, there were many writers, who wrote about this issue. On July 1, 1876, in Davenport, Iowa Susan Glaspell was born. Susan was one of those†¦show more content†¦Then, Mr. Hale replays that he entered the house and found Mrs. Wright on her chair â€Å"pleating at her apron†. The fact that she was pleating her apron while Mr. Hale is asking her about h er husband means that she was nervous and looking for comfort, as if she really committed the crime . The second time the apron is mentioned when Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale collect things for Mrs. Wright which was the main purpose of their coming. And, while gathering Mrs. Wright’s stuff, Mrs. Peter’s statement she said she wanted an apron†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and she continues â€Å"†¦Funny thing to want; for there isnt much to get you dirty in jail. Goodness knows. But I suppose just to make her feel more natural Explains that Mrs. Wright’s request is a quite strange. Still, the use of this symbol in these two statements indicates Glaspell’s skill in showing what Mrs. Wright really misses in her life and in jail, particularly, comfort and protection. In my opinion, I believe that Susan Glaspell successes in illustration the importance of the apron, by showing the security and calm that brings to Mrs. Wright. Also, Mrs. Peter’s statement represents the apron as a kind of daily clothes for women in that time, which obviously connected to their roles in home. Also, I think there is no one who can do what Susan Glaspell did in using such a simple piece of fabric in portrays the whole psychological condition of the main character. That appears, in how Mrs. Wright pleats her apronShow MoreRelated The Danger in Susan Glaspells Trifles Essay799 Words   |  4 PagesThe Danger in Susan Glaspells Trifles Susan Glaspells Trifles is a play about a real life murder case that uses symbolism to help bring it to a close. It is easy to see that Mr. and Mrs. Wright live in a society that is cut off from the outside world and also strongly separated by gender. Three of the key symbols in Glaspells play are a simple bird cage, a quilt, and isolationism. Anna Uong of Virginia Tech and Karen Shelton of JSRCC share these same ideas on symbolism. TheseRead MoreFeminist in Susan Glaspell ´s Play Trifles999 Words   |  4 Pages Trifles In Susan Glaspell’s play Trifles a man has been murdered by his wife, but the men of the town who are in charge of investigating the crime are unable solve the murder mystery through logic and standard criminal procedures. Instead, two women (Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters) who visit the home are able to read a series of clues that the men cannot see because all of the clues are embedded in domestic items that are specific to women. The play at first it seems to be about mystery, but itRead MoreEssay on The Use of Symbolism in Susan Glaspells a Jury of Her Peer933 Words   |  4 PagesESSAY SAMPLE ON THE USE OF SYMBOLISM IN SUSAN GLASPELLS A JURY OF HER PEER Susan Glaspells short story, A Jury of Her Peers, was written long before the modern womens movement began, yet her story reveals, through Glaspells use of symbolism, the role that women are expected to play in society. Glaspell illustrates how this highly stereotypical role can create oppression for women and also bring harm to men as well. Character names are very important in A Jury of her Peers. The two charactersRead MoreTiffles Annotated Bibliography1375 Words   |  6 PagesTrifles Annotated Bibliography Alkalay-Gut, Karen. Jury of Her Peers: The Importance of Trifles. Studies in Short Fiction 21 (Winter 1984): 1-9. In this deeper look into Trifles, Karen goes through the plot and discusses what you should pay more attention too. She describes the symbolism in some of the objects as well as explain the scenes and their little details. Karen finds the difference between male and female perceptions of judgment to be central to the play. She explains that youRead MoreTrifles Analysis945 Words   |  4 PagesSusan Glaspell’s Trifles is a feminist drama that involves three women, a murder, and three over-controlling male counterparts. Although this play was published in 1916, some of the issues Glaspell introduces still plague our society today. Glaspell clearly introduces a divide between men and their masculinity and women and their femininity. Throughout the drama, there are three main conflicts that all support one main thesis; Mrs. Wright versus Mr. Wright, the lawmen bashing Mrs. Wright, and theRead MoreThe Role Of Women In The Doll House And Trifles1667 Words   |  7 Pagesfor some women in recent years. Works like â€Å"The Doll House† by Henrik Ibsen and â€Å"Trifles† by Susan Glaspell have helped advance the idea of what roles women should play in society. In each play there are strong, female protagonists who, despite being oppressed by the societal rules against women, learn to rebel and fight for what they believe is right. While there are many similarities and differences between the plays, both challenge societies idea on how women should act. Women in the late 19thRead More Symbolic Illustration of the Power of Relationships in Susan Glaspells Trifles1189 Words   |  5 PagesSymbolic Illustration of the Power of Relationships in Susan Glaspells Trifles A friend can be a remarkable thing. Unfortunately, many lack the powerful bonds that all humans need to survive and lead healthy, happy lives. In Susan Glaspells play Trifles, Mrs. Wright is starved of the human interaction and relationships she so desperately needs. Consequently, she is never rescued from her loneliness, is brought to the point where she cannot handle any more of lifes saddening struggles, andRead MoreEssay Symbols in Susan Glaspells Trifles829 Words   |  4 PagesSymbols in Susan Glaspells Trifles In the play titled Trifles, by Susan Glaspell, Minnie Foster Wright is being accused of murdering her husband, John. In this production, Mrs. Wright is consistently referenced, and although she is not witnessed, she is very recognizable. There are important symbols in this play that signifies Mrs. Wright and her existence as it once was and as it currently exists to be. Particularly the canary, this symbolizes Mrs. Wrights long forgotten past. AdditionallyRead MoreSymbols Add A Level Of Depth That Can Help The Reader To879 Words   |  4 PagesSymbols add a level of depth that can help the reader to see beyond what the author has provided and into the lives of the characters themselves. Furthermore, analyzing symbols can help expand the reader’s knowledge of what certain actions or evens can mean during the play. Symbols can be found throughout both Trifles and Othello, and each one helps further the plot or enhance characterization in some way. Susan Glaspell and William Sh akespeare both use powerful symbols to further the plot and enhanceRead More Susan Glaspells Trifles and A Jury of Her Peers Essay1754 Words   |  8 Pages In the early 1900s Susan Glaspell wrote many works, two stand out, the play Trifles and the short story A Jury of Her Peers. Trifles was written in 1920, while A Jury of Her Peers was written the following year. Trifles was written in only ten days. The true greatness of these works were not recognized until the 1970s. In the short story A Jury of Her Peers a woman named Minnie Wright is accused of the murder of her husband. Minnie Wright is a farmers wife and is also isolated