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Gender inequality in literature
Gender inequality in literature
Gender inequality in literature
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“Trifles” is a play in which Susan Glaspell manages to masterfully incorporate numerous amounts of drama; and at the same time, spin a story of murder, justice, and male superiority all into one. Glaspell writes of a woman who murdered her husband because he was to blame for her cold and lonely life. The women character's in the play, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters, solve the murder, while the men, the county attorney and sheriff, try to solve the murder their own way. From the moment the three male characters, George Henderson, Henry Peters, and Lewis Hale, enter the abandoned farmhouse, the reader can begin to acknowledge the presence of a patriarchal society. The men enter first, followed by the two women. Even in the description of the women, it can be observed that they (the women), tend to keep to the side lines, and allow the men to dominate. It is seen when the men which are “much bundled up and go at once to the stove.” (595). While the women almost creep in after them. In Susan Glaspell's “Trifles" the purpose is to emphasize the importance of gender roles during the early 1900s using symbolism. Examples of symbolism that she that she uses includes, the dead canary bird, the title, and the assertion that Mrs. Wright was going to knot rather than quilt the patchwork quilt. Glaspell used symbolism as clues to the murderer's motive that only the women were able to figure out, and in turn kept the motive of the murderer a secret due to the bond of women. One example of symbolism seen in the play is with the dead canary bird. As the women were in the process of gathering Mrs. Wright’s belongings from the kitchen, they came upon a Mumtaz 2 bird cage with a broken door, and a missing bird. As they continued on with their task, the... ... middle of paper ... ...lt it. She was going to-what is it you call it, ladies?" (603) Mrs. Hale replied, "We call it-knot it, Mr. Henderson," (603). The ladies knew that Mrs. Wright killed her husband by tying a rope around his neck, but they weren't going to indulge the men with that information. The women were not going to tell because; the women had begun to build a bond, and knew that exposing the evidence would in turn prove that Mrs. Wright was guilty. Symbolism was a key part to this short play. Glaspell used it throughout the drama to exemplify the bonds between women. She used certain concepts that only the women of that time could understand and appreciate to show the knowledge women held. The men in the play didn't understand the significance of the flawed patchwork quilt, and the empty birdcage, they just assumed that these things were trifles and could be passed over.
The tile of the poem “Bird” is simple and leads the reader smoothly into the body of the poem, which is contained in a single stanza of twenty lines. Laux immediately begins to describe a red-breasted bird trying to break into her home. She writes, “She tests a low branch, violet blossoms/swaying beside her” and it is interesting to note that Laux refers to the bird as being female (Laux 212). This is the first clue that the bird is a symbol for someone, or a group of people (women). The use of a bird in poetry often signifies freedom, and Laux’s use of the female bird implies female freedom and independence. She follows with an interesting image of the bird’s “beak and breast/held back, claws raking at the pan” and this conjures a mental picture of a bird who is flying not head first into a window, but almost holding herself back even as she flies forward (Laux 212). This makes the bird seem stubborn, and follows with the theme of the independent female.
Glaspell exposed how this dominance can be physically and mentally damaging to the women by displaying the sexist interactions between males and females. According to the article “Representations of Rural Women in Susan Glaspell’s Trifles”, Raja Al-Khalili states “Susan Glaspell used domestic violence as a motif to arouse questions concerning motives that lead women, who are relegated to the house, to become physical aggressors.” (132) Glaspell uses hidden clues such as the men having important professions, and how these professions play a huge role in the hierarchy of male dominance. These specific professions were being the town’s sheriff and the court appointed attorney. Another example, in the beginning of the play, Glaspell uses great imagery to show us the men stand by the stove and the women by the door during a cold time. This essays demonstrates the changes the characters underwent and displays the physical and mental damage that Mrs. Hale, Mrs. Wright, and Mrs. Peters endured during this male central
In the first scene, the reader is introduced to Mrs. Wright’s kitchen. Quickly one can tell that things have been left unkempt and that a disturbance has occurred. Through the male perspective, Mrs. Wright is judged entirely on the basis of how disheveled her home appears, how her kitchen is out of sorts, as well as how poorly everything else is left. For example, the County Attorney is not pleased when he finds dirty towels and states that Mrs. Wright was “not much of a housekeeper,” and that he “can’t say she had the homemaking instinct.” These qualities seem to be of uppermost importance to him, and the reader can only wonder what his opinion of her would have been had the house been left tidy.
In the play, there was a lot of foreshadowing and anaphora. The major symbols in the play that stand out to me was the bird, quilt and apron. The bird symbols as revenge and love. Mrs. Wright loved her pet bird as a child but when John Wright killed the bird, she could not think of a more fitting revenge than killing him. Mrs. Peters ' sense of empathy, as she recalls having had similar feelings many years ago when a boy killed her kitten. For these women, the pain that results from the death of a loved one is the resolute for revenge. The symbol of the quilt represents the easy way out, when Mrs. Hale said “we call it –Knot it, Mr. Henderson”. When someone is making a quilt, the “quilt” style is the longer hand detailed way of making a quilt whereas the “Knot” style is the easy, short and fast way of making a quilt. The quilt is foreshadowing the murder of John Wright and how Mrs. Wright took the easy way out from the loneliness and suffering of the emotional abuse, by tying a rope around John Wright neck into a knot. The apron is a symbol for the domestic housewives to stay in the kitchen the role that women had to play during that
The evidence regarding to Mrs. Wright criminal misconduct was concealed in secrecy by the alliance of Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters, for they were not realizing that hiding evidence would do more harm than good for Minnie wright’s behalf, because of their attitude of achieving an exclusive quality than there husband’s, to prove that they can do just as much as the men or more and neglecting in actually saving Mrs. Wright from custody Mael has proclaimed “Minnie’s trifles raise the consciousness of both women especially Mrs. Peters moving them from awareness to anger to action” (Mael 282). Mr. Hale and Mr. Peters overlooked on how to correctly handle the investigation, instead the men senselessly point out the inferiority of women, and insulting their capabilities to become as equal as the men. The outcome of the Investigation revealed to be a catastrophe, because the male officials presumed that Minnie Wright was the victim that committed the crime I n murdering her husband Mr. wright as they didn’t obtain any leads or information to know if she did it or not. The women immediately began collecting all of Mrs. Wrights belongs including the evidence that will get Mrs. Wright accused for the Murder. As the men’s insults on Mrs. Wright famine housekeeping capabilities made the unease causing them to devastate the crime
...ad to his death by her hands. The symbolisms of the unfinished quilt and canary created by Susan Glaspell clearly identify such standards that are present in this society. While the bird represented the last living joys of Minnie’s life the quilt juxtaposed the struggle and loneliness. When all the joys of life is taken away from you it leaves a sense of despair with nothing to live for driving Minnie into insanity. The men’s pompous attitude causes the women to feel defensive and form ranks. Not only do Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters bond, but they choose to hide evidence as an act of compassion for Minnie. Stealing the box with the dead bird is an act of loyalty to their gender and an act of defiance against a callous patriarchal society.
...h. The understanding of Henderson’s statement suggested that Mrs. Wright did not have the homemaking abilities a woman is supposed to possess. Right before she kills her husband, Mrs. Wright ponders how her husband failed to make their home warm and emotionally comforting. Henderson does not seem to comprehend how important being emotionally comforting and having a warm home is. His misunderstanding was due to the fact that he could not see the troubles the Wrights’ marriage had.
“Without plotting any collaboration, the women instinctively conceal the dead bird in the sewing basket and make excuses to divert the men’s attention” (Zaidman). Both women react, and hide the canary from the men. This action was a small rebellion from their husbands, which at the time, was extremely rare. “‘No, Peters,’ said the county attorney incisively; ‘it’s all perfectly clear, except the reason for doing it… If there was some definite thing- something to show./In a covert way Mrs. Hale looked at Mrs. Peters. Mrs. Peters was looking at her. Quickly they looked away from each other” (Glaspell) The women realize here that they were holding evidence that would give Mrs. Wright motive, and make the case against her. Instead of handing over the canary to the men, they hide it, and that small action represents women fighting back from the oppressive and misogyny of that
The play was filled with symbols, especially the broken cage and the dead bird, which could have
The birdcage represents how Mrs. Wright was trapped in her marriage, and could not escape it. The birdcage door is broken which represents her broken marriage to Mr. Wright. It also represents Mrs. Wright escaping her marriage from Mr. Wright. When the door is open it allows Mrs. Wright to became a free woman. At one point in time the cage door use to have a lock that locked the bird inside the cage. This represents how Mr. Wright kept Mrs. Wright locked up from society. Mr. Wright knew that by keeping Mrs. Wright locked up, she would never be able to tell anyone how he really acted. Mr. Wright was very cruel to his wife.
The play begins with Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale entering the farmhouse behind the men and keeping close to the door (1384). Their actions are symbolic of the culture that men are deemed superior to women -- men first, and women follow. Before “Ms.” or the hyphenated surname, women are pleasured to be known as “Mrs.” and the surnames of their husbands. Once married, the woman loses her identity. However, Glaspell refers to Mrs. Wright as “Minnie;” the other women are identified as extensions of their husbands, Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale. By killing her husband Minnie has liberated herself of that bond and has earned her own identity. Minnie’s apron is also symbolic. In Hale’s rendition of the facts, he speaks of Minnie’s “pleating her apron” as she tells him of her husband’s demise (1385). This nervous action is indicative of her state of mind, but more importantly, it symbolizes the “pleating” or “folding” of the life she has known. She asks for her apron as she sits in her jail cell, attempting to cling to her identity as a woman and wife (1388). Hale further describes discovering Minnie rocking back and forth in her rocker (1384). She later moves “off her rocker” to the chair, symbolizing her state of mind after the incident (1385). The women uncover Minnie’s sewing basket and find patches of quilt she is stitching. They
George, Henry, and Mr.Hale have no remorse for Mrs.Wright and poke fun of the cleanliness of the house. The men lose interest in the kitchen and venture upstairs in hope of discovering evidence. The women want to put a basket together to give Mrs.Wright, so they stay in the kitchen. While searching for items that might bring her comfort the two stubble across a broken birdcage. Mrs.Hale made a connection that the birdcage cage resembled Mr.Wright’s anger. It became surreal, what Mrs.Wright endured for many years alone. Then they found lost freedom, a dead canary. Mrs.Wright loved to sing, but her husband did not appreciate this passion. Unable to do what she loved, Mrs.Wright bought a canary, something that would sing, but Mr.wright was disgusted with it and twisted the canary’s neck. Everything fell into place and the women knew they had to protect Mrs.Wright, they were done with being quiet. “I might have known she needed help! I know how things can be-for women. I tell you, it’s queer, Mrs.Peters. We live close together and we live far apart”(Johnson, ARP, 1141). It was this moment they knew they were going to help Mrs.Wright even if it meant hiding evidence. These three women revolted in a male-dominated
Trifles by Susan Glaspell tackles the problems of the patriarchal systems that women have lived in. The focus of Trifles is bringing the oppression of women to the public. However, I believe that understanding the different roles men played in Trifles and will give a new perspective of the trials women went through in this proto-feminist play. As such, this essay will explore the roles men played in the lives of women. Specifically, what aspects of the writing illustrate the implied authority of men and the active oppression over Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters. In addition, interesting aspects of the subtexts are found in metaphors and motifs of the text. These metaphors are indicative of the behaviors women had to attain in response to male dominance. Finally, by analyzing the relationship of the antagonist against protagonist and where the chracters sit on the axis of conflict
Entrenched in irony, the title holds immense significance. It is based on the arrogant, condescending line by Hale, “ well, women are used to worrying about trifles” (1.132). All the things women are reduced to doing—cleaning, cooking, quilting—are deemed insignificant trivialities. Moreover, the men pay little attention to the activities of women, which is a quintessential asset in the play. While the men go off to look in the bedroom where the murder happened, the women stay in the kitchen and other “useless” areas, and end up solving the crime. They look in the kitchen and in bag of quilt pieces and uncover the dark secret that enveloped the Wright home. Putting together clues, they decipher Mr. and Mrs. Wright’s deleterious marriage and the cruelty that possessed Mr. Wright. By worrying about so-called trifles, they ended up solving the crime that the egotistical men could not.
Mrs.Hale and Peters discover that Minnie Wright strangled her husband after he killed her bird. Her bird represented her happiness and her freedom and once John Wright took that away from her, Minnie tried to take it back, by killing John. Just as John had control over the Minnie’s life, the men control the progression and structure of the play. As the men the walk in and out of scene the plotline changes.Showing that the play needed it needed men to act in order for the plot move along, as did society mandate that men control women Glaspell deliberately casts the play in a single scene, to reinforce her critique on society and how in in this era demanded that a man had taken charge and have control over a woman because, “women are used to worrying over trifles.” (11) This fallacy is what rationalises, the women hiding incriminating evidence and to hide the evidence. Despite, Mrs. Peters protests, “But, Mrs.Hale, the law is the law.” (15) Although, it is hard to rationalise any murder, Mrs.Hale and Peters help protect Minnie Foster from having her happiness from being taken