Reading Susan Glaspell's Trifles

Written over a century ago, Trifles (1916) by Susan Glaspell remains a play relevant to society and culture, questioning the male patriarchy and its role in the twentieth century. The story begins in a Midwestern farmhouse, when a county sheriff and an attorney are questioning Mr. Hale and his wife, the neighbors who discovered the dead body of Mr. Wright. They believe Mrs. Wright is the murderer and as they continue to investigate, the attorney and sheriff make crude remarks about the state of the kitchen and certain traits, they believe, women hold. When moving upstairs, they leave Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters behind in the kitchen to gather Mrs. Wright’s belongings. As they collect her items, they begin piecing together a possible motive that reveals Mrs. Wrights oppression and state of mind during her marriage. 

There are a few subtle differences between the film and the text. When watching the play, I noticed the strong use of music. The filmmaker used dark ominous tones, perhaps to draw attention to the remote setting and the murder itself. When I watched these events, I thought I was in an unsettling and eerie location. Compared to when I was reading the play, I felt I was in a peaceful and quiet setting, away from civilization, even though the characters were in fact discussing a killing. The film did a great job creating a clear separation from the male and female characters. You never once see the men with their wives. They are so far away, almost as if it establishes the rules of their misogyny. Another aspect of the film, is the use of improve from the actors. For example, Attorney Henderson interrupts Mr. Hale often in the beginning of the film when he is describing how he discovered the body. This is not in the script, allowing for a longer monologue from the character. I felt in the film adaptation, he was more impatient and dismissive. Also, when reading the play, I appreciated the language and dialogue more. This could be because the characters distinct voices and emotions are in my head, leaving more for the imagination. 

There are many effective literary elements in this piece. A strong one is the use of symbols. As Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters collect the suspects items, they notice the fabric that Mrs. Wright was sewing displayed uneven patterns, implying her nervousness and alienation she felt from her husband. When they continue, they see an empty birdcage and a broken hinge. And finally, they find a dead bird in a small box they believe she was going to bury. Mrs. Hale describes Mrs. Wright and how she used to love to sing, and how Mr. Wright was a cold man who probably would not like birds. Another strong element is the use of characterization, specifically through the use of language. As Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters present this information to the attorneys and sheriff, they are incredibly patronizing. How they describe females is disturbing and a clear representation of society at that time. 

To me, this play was well ahead of its time as it questioned the motives of the men. In regards to themes of conformity and rebellion, I feel Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters asked important questions and presented insightful observations. Through their own questioning and deductions, they were able to present a likely motive, when the sheriff and attorney could not find one. Through the sheriff and attorney’s own ignorance they misinterpreted important clues and items that could have been essential.