A comprehensive summary on “Trifles” by Susan Glaspell

"Trifles" is a one-act play by Susan Glaspell that explores the lives of rural women in the
early 20th century. The play begins with the discovery of the body of John Wright, a
farmer who has been strangled in his bed. The county attorney, George Henderson, the
sheriff, Henry Peters, and a neighboring farmer, Lewis Hale, arrive at the farmhouse to
investigate the murder.

The men immediately begin searching for evidence, while the women present in the
farmhouse, Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale, begin to collect some clothes for Mrs. Wright,
who is currently in jail as the prime suspect in her husband's murder. As the men search
for clues, they dismiss the women's comments and observations as "trifles," believing
that they are irrelevant to the case.

As the investigation continues, the women begin to piece together the events leading up
to the murder. They notice small details, such as a broken jar of preserves, a quilt that
has been hastily sewn, and the absence of certain kitchen utensils. These seemingly
trivial observations lead them to the conclusion that Mrs. Wright was driven to murder
her husband because of his oppressive and abusive behavior towards her, particularly
towards her cherished bird, which was found dead with its neck wrung.

The men continue to search for evidence, but the women become increasingly
frustrated by their dismissive attitude towards their observations. In the end, Mrs. Peters
and Mrs. Hale hide the crucial evidence that they have discovered, the dead bird, in
their coat pockets, protecting Mrs. Wright's memory and standing up against the men
who belittle them.

Throughout the play, Glaspell uses symbolism to convey the idea that the women's
seemingly trivial observations hold the key to understanding the crime. The broken jar of
preserves symbolizes the brokenness of Mrs. Wright's life, while the hastily sewn quilt
represents the chaotic and hurried nature of her actions. The dead bird, which had been
strangled like John Wright, represents the oppression and abuse that Mrs. Wright
suffered at the hands of her husband.

"Trifles" is also notable for its feminist themes, which highlight the struggles of rural
women in the early 20th century. The play shows how women were often dismissed and
belittled by men, who did not take their experiences and observations seriously. It also
suggests that women have a unique perspective on the world that is often overlooked,
and that paying attention to the details of women's lives can reveal important truths
about human behavior.

In conclusion, "Trifles" is a powerful and thought-provoking play that explores the lives
of rural women in the early 20th century. Through its use of symbolism and feminist
themes, the play highlights the importance of paying attention to seemingly insignificant
details and the need to recognize the experiences and observations of women in
understanding the complexities of human behavior.
A thesis on Trifles

Trifles" emphasizes and focuses on the necessity of paying attention to seemingly trivial
details or minute subtleties and respecting the experiences and observations of women
in comprehending the complexity of human behavior through the adept use of symbols
and feminist themes.

This thesis statement summarizes the play's key concepts, highlighting the importance
of symbolism and female themes in expressing its message. It also highlights the play's
central topic, which is the relevance of women's experiences and observations in
comprehending the world around us. The thesis statement, by focusing on these
factors, provides a clear and succinct argument that may be developed throughout an
essay about "Trifles."

three significant points that support the thesis statement:

Symbolism: "Trifles" makes extensive use of symbolism to communicate the play's

theme about paying attention to apparently trivial elements. The shattered jar of
preserves, for example, and the hurriedly made quilt both represent the brokenness and
disarray of Mrs. Wright's life, implying that there are deeper underlying issues at work
that the men investigating the murder are unable to notice. Glaspell uses these symbols
to demonstrate that the women's seemingly insignificant observations contain the key to
understanding the crime.

Feminist themes: The drama is especially notable for its depiction of feminist themes,
stressing the challenges of rural women in the early twentieth century. The males in the
play dismiss the women's experiences and perceptions, implying that their points of
view are invalid or unimportant. In contrast, the women's judgments about the shattered
jar of preserves, the hurriedly stitched quilt, and the deceased bird reflect Mrs. Wright's
deeper emotional and psychological concerns. This emphasizes the importance of
women's experiences and observations in understanding human behavior.

Importance of women's voices: Finally, the play's message about the importance of
women's voices is significant. Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale eventually bury the evidence of
the dead bird in their coat pockets, implying that they are safeguarding Mrs. Wright's
memory and standing up to the men who mock them. This underscores the notion that
women's opinions and viewpoints are frequently ignored or rejected, despite their
importance in comprehending the complexity of human behavior. By emphasizing the
significance of women's voices, Glaspell implies that there is a lot to be learned by
giving thought to the experiences and views of society's marginalized groups.

three significant points that support the thesis statement drawing insights from
formalism and structuralism:

Formalism: Formalism is a critical approach that stresses a literary work's formal

qualities, such as its language, structure, and style. In "Trifles," formalist analysis might
demonstrate how Glaspell's use of language and structure adds to the fundamental
themes of the play. The play's minimal, realistic speech, for example, and its single,
uninterrupted scene, for example, create a sense of confinement and isolation that
mirrors the constrained lives of rural women in the early twentieth century. By examining
the play's formal aspects, one may acquire a better understanding of how Glaspell used
language and structure to express her message about the significance of paying
attention to seemingly trivial things and acknowledging women's experiences and views.
Structuralism: Structuralism is a form of criticism that focuses on the underlying
structures and patterns that define a literary work. In "Trifles," structuralist study may
reveal how Glaspell uses the play's structure to deliver her message. The three-part
structure of the play, for example, with an introduction, increasing action, and
denouement, generates a feeling of order and purpose that mirrors the process of
investigating a murder. The framework, however, highlights the limitations of the men's
inquiry as well as the significance of the women's views. By examining the play's
structural patterns, one may acquire a better understanding of how Glaspell used
structure to express her message on the significance of valuing women's experiences
and views.

Interplay between form and structure: Finally, a combined formalist and structuralist
analysis might indicate how the play's message is influenced by the interaction of form
and structure. The play's limited, realistic speech and single, uninterrupted setting, for
example, may be seen as formal elements that create a sense of confinement and
isolation, while the three-part structure could be interpreted as a structural feature that
produces a sense of order and purpose. These formal and structural components, when
combined, create a conflict between confinement and purpose that symbolizes the
contradiction between rural women's constrained existence and their need for
recognition and action. One may acquire a better grasp of Glaspell's message on the
significance of respecting women's experiences and observations by evaluating the
interplay between form and structure.