Susan glaspell trifles summary

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She says, “I know what stillness is […] The law has got to punish crime, Mrs. Hale” (23). If you want to read the book, don’t click “Show more” and spoil your experience. They grapple with whether to reveal what they know to the men, who would disregard their discoveries. It tells the story of an investigation into a murder, unraveling a deeper commentary on women’s lives in society.

Her understanding of domestic life and her observations in the Wright household help piece together the emotional and psychological context of the murder.

Mrs. She definitely intended to sting the conscience of her audience and challenge their perceptions of justice and morality, while also focusing on the different experiences that men and women might have to the exact same objective fact or event.

George remarks that Mrs. Hale is “loyal to [her] sex” (8), while also dismissing Mrs. Hale’s insinuations about Mr. Wright’s cruel, rough character and the unhappiness of his marriage.

The two men proceed up the stairs and the women remain in the kitchen, conversing. Through the lens of two women, who uncover critical evidence overlooked by the men, Trifles reveals the complexities of despair faced by women.

Book Details

Title: Trifles
Author: Susan Glaspell
First Published: January 1, 1916
Pages: 20
Average Rating: 3.87 (7,172 ratings)
Genre: Drama, Feminism, Classics

Synopsis of Trifles

Introduction to Trifles

Susan Glaspell’s *Trifles* is a one-act play, first performed in 1916.

I encourage you to read and share it with your friends. Peters notices a quilt-in-progress laying on a table. Hale holds her, then her own eyes point the way to the spot where the box is concealed” (25).

“Trifles,” a one-act play by Susan Glaspell, is an exploration of gender roles and the subtlety of human relationships, set against the backdrop of a murder investigation in rural America. 

The play, inspired by the real-life 1900 murder of Iowa farmer John Hossack, delves into the overlooked details – the ‘trifles’ – that reveal a deeper truth.

Summary

The story unfolds in the cold, empty Wright farmhouse, immediately following the strangling of John Wright.

Trifles is a wonderful play that was once widely known; it shouldn't linger as a hidden gem.

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Quotes

  • “We live close together and we live far apart.

    As the doorknob turns, “Mrs. The play’s conclusion leaves viewers contemplating the consequences of silence versus the power of empathy. Mrs. Peters asserts that the man died in an awful manner. Thus, *Trifles* endures as a powerful commentary on the societal structures that shape our lives. Also a likelihood rating for each recommended book.

    When she opens it expecting to find Mrs. Wright’s scissors, she finds a dead canary wrapped in silk. As the men search upstairs, the women linger in the kitchen. She was going to—what is it you call it, ladies?” (25).

    susan glaspell trifles summary

    The title “Trifles” is deeply ironic, as the play shows that what men consider trivial can actually hold the key to understanding profound human experiences.