Trifles: Men Versus Women

Steve Bender

Ms. Brown

English Comp Fund II

29 March 2011

Trifles: Men versus Women

Trifle: something of little value, substance, or importance. Susan Glaspell's play "Trifles" takes its readers on an intriguing journey of the significant and the insignificant. According to Susan Glaspell, the significant facts are what the men conceive, and the insignificant facts are what the women perceive. "Trifles" is a classic early twentieth century battle of the sexes, were men's work is considered important, women's work is petty and the maltreatment of women led to their solidarity. The title of the play is very important because the trifle things are what add clarity to this murder mystery.

"Trifles" began with George Henderson, the county attorney; Henry Peters, the sheriff; Lewis Hale, the witness; Mrs. Peters, the sheriff's wife, and Mrs. Hale. They are there because John Wright has been murdered and it is assumed that Mrs. Wright has committed the murder. The county attorney is amused at the condition of the home. There are dirty dishes in the sink, broken preserve jars, and dirty hand towels above the sink. The county attorney automatically assumes that Mrs. Wright is a poor housekeeper, and makes a wise-crack, "Not much of a housekeeper, would you say, ladies?" (Glaspell 1156). To the men this is just broken preserves; however, the women know that no self-respecting woman would ever leave her home in such disarray, and they see this as a sign of a woman in distress.

Susan Glaspell continues to illustrate the disrespect that women endure from men by the snide remark that the sheriff makes, "Well, women are used to worrying over trifles" (1156). This insult brings the women closer. When the men proceed upstairs, Mrs. Hale makes a comment about their behavior, "I'd hate to have men coming into my kitchen, snooping around and criticizing" (1157), which Mrs. Peters makes a sarcastic remark about them, "Of course, it's no more than their duty" (1157). It is the men's duty to solve the crime; not their duty to criticize the women's place in her home.