Trifles Play by Susan Glaspell Review

The play “Trifles” by Susan Glaspell, examines what happens after a murder occurs in a small rural house. Minnie Wright is accused of sleeping through the night as her husband, John Wright, was allegedly strangled in bed. As they search the home for proof that Mrs. Wright killed her husband, the Sheriff, his wife Mrs. Peters, the County Attorney, and a nearby farming couple, Mr. and Mrs. Hale, enter the scene. The men in the room immediately crack jokes about the two women’s apparent trepidation at being in the cold, deserted Wright home. The women are left in the kitchen alone to reflect on what happened while the men search for additional proof. Mrs. Peters is there to collect some items for the supposed killer, and upon closer inspection, the two discover a sewing basket with a dead bird. Mrs. Hale, who has known Minnie for her entire life, starts to rule out potential causes of Mr. Wright’s demise. When the women learn of this, they must decide whether to notify the men who had been with them that night and had reprimanded them or to show compassion for Mrs. Wright and keep the information to themselves. Mrs. Hale regrets not reaching out to Minnie during her marriage to the “hard man” that was John Wright, while Mrs. Peters struggles with this choice. The women ultimately decide to keep the evidence to themselves as the male law enforcement officials enter the room and continue to make fun of the women who, unbeknownst to them, are the key to solving the murder mystery.

I thought this play did a great job exploring traditional feminist concerns and the idea of retaliation murder. The decision Mrs. Peters made to conceal the evidence piqued my curiosity the most. She is “married to the law,” as the males in the room pointed out, yet she still chooses to keep the proof to herself. When I think about the period in which this play was written, it makes sense that this is an actual demonstration of the gender alliance we see throughout the space. Despite working long hours at home and receiving little appreciation, women still had the right to vote at this time. Mrs. Peter’s decision to suppress information also raises the possibility that she is Minnie’s oppressor, understanding why Minnie killed her husband and, as a result, not wanting to see her put to death.