Drama Writing Assignment on Trifles by Susan Glaspell

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“Trifles” by Susan Glaspell
Historical Introduction
The play “Trifles” by Susan Glaspell was written long time ago when women were less served than men. It is evident in the play based on what Mrs. Wright undergoes through. Several occurrences happen in the play that tends to have influenced the writer. One such incident is Mr. Wright killing the song that Mrs. Wright used to see well before getting married to him and killing the song in her bird. The other occurrence is the death of the first baby of Mrs. Peters, and she was left in the house alone as her husband worked.
First done by Susan Glaspell in 1916, this “Trifles” literary period was characterized by patriarchic circumstances. Women faced various challenges towards twentieth century when Glaspell was born in 1986 which she wanted to address. The issues include socialism, women’s suffrage, and birth control through women limitation to participate in voting, earned low wages and could only be housewives (Glaspell, para23). In general, the society by then could not recognize women as the critical people, and this is what influences Glaspell to write the play. Two of the major writers and their works on the issue were Sonia Alvarez,“Women’s Movements in Transition Politics” and Nancy Folbre, “The Invisible Heart.”
Primary Introduction
“Trifles” is a play by Susan Glaspell produced in 1916 in which she covers a murder story. The play begins with the police who are doing the investigation into the controversial murder of John in his house.

Mrs. Wright tries to cover up the story by making police officers believe that Mr. Wright was murdered by someone else. The women in the play find Mrs. Wright guilty of killing her husband in retaliation for strangling her bird. The thematic concern of the play is the traditional repression of women by men which the play contradicts by depicting the vital role of women. This theme emanates from the historical perception by men against women, the conflicts between men and women, and the ability of the women to unveil evidence about the murder.
Body
Historically, women were despised and maltreated. The play presents a clear picture of the various events that depicts the traditional oppression of women. In the play, Mr. Wright kills the singing and that of Mrs. Wright’s bird. Women natural have been associated with the song as a way to pass the message and are good at doing so. The same case happens to Mrs. Peters who stays home all along as the husband works. The same way women have been associated with being the best people to look after children and homes (Williams, 342).
The men and women are in constant conflicts. When women tend to act differently in a manner likely to indicate that they are able, men would not be happy about it. In the play, men have issues with the way the women are so much concerned about the guilt of the woman in the house. The two men become filled self-importance of the male-authority and want to treat women with contempt. The reaction from men depicts the everyday perception of men against woman and disagreement between the two groups.
Women can do as much what men can do and even better than women. This indicates that women only lack the opportunity but given a chance, they can do better than men (Williams, 343). The two women in the play continued to search the house after finding the empty birdcage leading to further discoveries of the strangled bird. They do this even after men had given up. Also, women can identify the killer and the nature of the killing. The women in the play go ahead to achieve what men could not achieve. This is evident in the real world where women such as those in leadership have achieved more than men.
Conclusion
Trifles depict Glaspell as a feminist who uses her writing to advance her goals. The traditional treatment of women influences her writing. At times he portrays of the conflict between men and women which increases the chances that an agreement shall never be reached soon. However, women make their effort to prove that they can also do it. The society today seems to be shifting and the many years since the play was produced indicating that a lot has changed towards making the world of women better and equal to men.
Works cited
Glaspell, Susan. Trifles. Frank Shay, 1916.
Williams, Christine L. Gender differences at work: Women and men in non-traditional occupations. Univ of California Press, 1989.