The Symbols Of Trifles By Minnie Wright - 798 Words

The title of the play refers to the concerns of the women in the play, which the men consider to be only â€Å"trifles.† This includes such things as the canning jars of fruit that Minnie Wright is concerned about despite being held for murder, as well as the quilt and other items that Minnie asks to have brought to her at the jail. Trifles symbolize the importance of the topics and items that concern the women in the story, as these concerns provide the women with the insight to understand the motive of Minnie’s crime.Hale said,â€Å"Well, women are used to worrying over trifles.†.The men, who arrogantly assume that women’s interests are â€Å"trifling† and unimportant, are blind to the importance of these items in the investigation of John Wright’s†¦show more content†¦Their instinct to protect her against the men who have judged her is first shown in their agreement to lie to her about her canning jars. This is one of many out-of-place objects in Minnie’s kitchen that cause George Henderson to accuse her of being a poor housekeeper. The disarray of Minnie’s kitchen demonstrates a distressed mind and that Minnie’s act of killing her husband was more emotional and dramatic than her demeanor indicates. In addition, the mess in the kitchen symbolizes the ways in which the men in this play expect women to fulfill certain gender roles. Minnie, not John, is held responsible for the state of the house and is seen as unfit for her role of wife, as a result. It is precisely this sort of judgment, and the fact that the men are so comfortable with judging women, that isolates Minnie in the first place. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters decide to bring the quilt to Minnie in jail, another one of the trifles that the men believe only concern women. The quilt and Minnie’s decision to finish it in one of two styles—quilting or knotting—is developed as a metaphor for her innocence or her guilt. The act of knotting a quilt is linked to the act of killing a man with a rope around his neck. The play ends with George Henderson asking the women how Minnie was going to finish the quilt. Mrs. Hale’s certainty that she was going to â€Å"knot it† symbolizes the women’s certainty that Minnie killed her husband. Meanwhile,Show MoreRelatedTrifles, By Susan Glaspell Essay1469 Words   |  6 Pagesone-act play Trifles is based on the murder investigation of John Wright. Minnie Wright’s isolation and the death of her canary are the major factors that led to the murder of her husband. Glaspell stresses the perceived supremacy of males when investigating the murder by giving the men lead roles in the investigation and by making fun of the â€Å"trifles† that the women are choosing to observe. It is ironic because the ordinary items observed by the women were thought of as â€Å"trifles† to the men,Read More The Danger in Susan Glaspells Trifles Essay799 Words   |  4 PagesGlaspells 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. These three symbols are the mainRead 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. 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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 Pagesillustrates 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 characters, John and Minnie Wright, are the focus of the story. The name Minnie has significant symbolism. Minnie is derived from mini or minimized, which was very descriptive of her oppressed relationship with John and also the male insensitivity toward most women in society. Women taking their husbands last namesRead MoreTrifles by Susan Glaspell Essay569 Words   |  3 PagesTrifles by Susan Glaspell In the short play Trifles,† by Susan Glaspell, various questions and issues originate concerning with the bond between women, the difference between male and female, and what life was like in the early nineteen century for women. In addition, the importance and development of symbols are crucial. Throughout the play, Glaspell uses symbols to further and support Minnie’s isolation and lack of happiness in her life. Although the answers may be evident there is roomRead MoreThe Women In â€Å"Trifles†. The Play â€Å"Trifles† , Written By1658 Words   |  7 PagesThe Women In â€Å"Trifles† The play â€Å"Trifles† , written by Susan Glaspell allows us to experience the gender divide in the early nineteen hundreds. While the play title gives the reader the idea that the story will be trivial or unimportant, it is anything but. The play focuses on the fact that women are considered â€Å"other† or an â€Å"object† (Beauvoir, 8). This is the complete opposite of men who are considered the â€Å"subject†, which holds immense amount of values. These two definitions are polar opposites