Susan Glaspell’s Story Trifles

Susan Glaspell’s story “Trifles” is about a woman who in her younger days was an outgoing, attractive person who had a passion for singing in the choir. However after marrying into a relationship with a cruel, strict, and anti-social farmer, he eventually provoked her to kill him in which she hung a noose around his neck and strangled him in his sleep. The reason that the women in this story do not share the evidence they find with the men is that they feel sorry for Mrs. Wright’s position and decide to stick together as women.

The setting of the story takes place in a bleak, messy kitchen in an abandoned farmhouse. As the cold winter wind blows outside setting the mood for the story, the three characters enter the room one a time to investigate the death of Mr. Wright. During the story the three men constantly enter and exit the room leaving the two women to sit in the kitchen observing the little things in Mrs. Wright’s kitchen. As the men search the house, the two women talk and share experiences eventually leading them to form a bond with themselves and eventually Minnie Wright.

There are many references to Mrs. Wright being trapped in this story. The physical setting is important for it is cold and bitter outside. This can be compared to her husband’s behavior to her and the general attitude between the couple. Loneliness also plays a factor as she didn’t even have the companionship of her neighbors or even her husband to interact with. The barren and cold landscape surrounding the farm was hard on her because of his refusal for children or a telephone. She has no friends, family, or children and was cut off from the rest of the world by her oppressive husband.

As the story unravels