`` Trifles By Susan Glaspell Is A Murder Mystery When You...

Women have faced oppression for the majority of history, and some still face this oppression today. In other countries, women are not allowed to show their faces, because it is disrespectful to their husbands. American women face a lesser issue in the pay scale difference, but it is still a viable one. The following questions come to mind: why are men placed on a higher pedestal? Do they work harder and think smarter, or does it come from a stereotype issue? In general, men are seen as powerful while women are feeble and need help. Not only do these gender stereotypes belittle women, but also they cause harsh feelings between the sexes. Literature can shed light on some of these feelings. Trifles by Susan Glaspell is a murder mystery when†¦show more content†¦This leads us into the next and largest action of the play: SHERIFF. We’ll be right out, Mr. Hale! ([...] Suddenly Mrs. Peters throws back quilt pieces and tries to put the box in the bag she is wearing. It is too big. She opens box, starts to take bird out, cannot touch it, goes to pieces, stands there helpless. Sound of a knob turning in the other room. Mrs. Hale snatches the box and puts it in the pocket of her big coat. [...]) (Glaspell 575) The women are reluctant to help Mrs. Wright, but with all they know, they decided to help her. Some many see this as wrong, because all crimes need to be punished. Although this is true, the reader must take into consideration what it takes to truly break someone to the point of committing murder. Symbols in the story were chosen for specific reasons, and they show a great deal about the time period and women. The symbols all point to one thing: oppression. When it was alive, the bird was caged for its beauty and song, and it is a literal symbol of Mrs. Wright. Also, the bird was a freedom Mrs. Wright had, and when it was killed, she lost all hope as seen through what is said about the bird: MRS. HALE. If there’d been years and years of nothing, then a bird to sing to you. It would be awful-- still, after the bird was still. (Glaspell 573) This excerpt of dialogue helps the reader understand how Mrs. Wright might have felt. Similarly, the fruit jars seem to represent Mrs. Wright