Glaspell's "Trifles"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how in the story "Trifles," Susan Glaspell shows that Mrs. Wright was justified in taking the life of her husband. It looks at how John Wright is portrayed as a character that is controlling and uncaring towards his wife.

From the Paper:

"The County Attorney arrogantly knocks Mrs. Wright's homemaking instincts and Mrs. Hale returns with, "Well I don't know as Wright had, either" (553). This leads the reader to believe that John Wright did little to bring happiness and security into the home, which is two important pieces to a caring household. The County Attorney, badgering Mrs. Hale asks, "You mean they didn't get on very well" (553). Mrs. Hale swiftly replies, "No, I don't mean anything. But I don't think a place'd be any cheerfuller for John Wright's being in it" (553). Those words from Mrs. Hale lead the readers to remember that John Wright was a cold, unpleasant man. John Wright has slowly swept away Minnie Foster's happiness. The author shows us that she was once a very pleasant, outgoing individual. "

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