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Michelle Pryce
Ms. Balding
English 102-700
17 September 2009
Analysis of Gender Expectation in “Trifles” and Darker Face of the Earth
“Trifles” and Darker Face of the Earth are two plays written by female American
playwrights at two different times in history. “Trifles” written in 1916 is very modern in its
treatment of its female protagonists. By its time standards, the lead characters are very different
from the average woman of that time. Although set in 1800’s American South, Darker Face of
the Earth was written in 1994. The female protagonist in this play is a much more modern
woman than one would assume a female character from that time period to be. I think the author
uses characteristics and attitudes of modern women and applies them to the past when creating
the main character. An analysis of the expectations of women as well as their relationships with
men will be examined in this essay.
The setting of “Trifles” is 1916 Midwestern America. At this time in United States
history, women held very different roles in society than they do now. Women were not allowed
to vote, only a small number of women held jobs outside of the home, a few were college
educated. Women were expected to be dutiful daughters, submissive wives, and doting mothers.
A woman’s status was based on her husband’s status if she was married and her father’s status if
she was not. On the surface, it appears that the lead female characters are accepting of their role
as wife, mother, and/or homemaker. Mrs. Wright spends time canning preserves and making
quilts; Mrs. Hale spends her time raising children, tending to the house,
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and volunteering with the Ladies Aide; and Mrs. Peters, as wife of the sheriff, is assumed to have
the same characteristics one typically associates with a sheriff. When asked by the sheriff if
he needs to inspect the items Mrs. Peters selected to take to Mrs. Wright, the county attorney
replied, “Oh, I guess they’re not very dangerous things the ladies have picked out. No, Mrs.
Peters doesn’t need supervising. For that matter, a sheriff’s wife is married to the law” (Glaspell
1121).
The lead male characters, the sheriff and county attorney, seem stern, arrogant, and
haughty. They have preconceived notions as to who committed the crime, and instead of looking
for evidence objectively, they wander through the house making disparaging comments about
Minnie Wright’s housekeeping abilities: “Dirty towels! Not much of a housekeeper, would you
say, ladies” (Glaspell 1114). Mrs. Hale’s defends Mrs. Wright and the county attorney responds
condescendingly, “Ah, loyal to your sex, I see” (Glaspell 1114). The men dismiss the women’s
behavior in general by retorting “Well, women are used to worrying over trifles” (Glaspell
1114). The men continue their search of the Wright place looking for clues to confirm their
suspicions while their smug, know-it-all attitude impedes their ability to see real clues.
Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale remain in the kitchen area while the men go upstairs searching
for more clues. As they gather more belongings for Mrs. Wright, they discover her secret. Their
discovery leads them to appreciate the reason why Mrs. Wright may have snapped and murdered
her husband. While their discovery may possibly implicate Mrs. Wright, it also may lead to her
defense should she be forced to go to trial. During the time span of perhaps an hour or less,
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Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters solve the crime, discover how much they are similar to Mrs. Wright,
and realize how easily they could be in Mrs. Wright’s position. As submissive wives, it is
expected that the ladies will mention their discovery to their husbands; however, they choose not
to do so. They have deduced that Minnie Wright had no choice but to do what she did. Their
one small act of mutiny is not expected for women of their position during that time period. In
this manner, the two women snub the role that society has assigned them. They act defiantly and
conceal crucial evidence in their defense of Minnie Wright.
In “Trifles”, the traditional relationship between the sexes is challenged. John and
Minnie Wright’s marriage is without love or respect; Mr. and Mrs. Hale’s relationship is not
ideal either. Overall, the men relate to the women in a superior manner. The males relate to each
other in a typical fraternal way. However, the women, who apparently were not friends prior to
this day, bond with each other in deciding to protect Minnie Wright. One would expect for the
women to be deferent to their husbands; however, possibly in retaliation to the men‘s attitude
toward them, they choose to stick together and protect Minnie Wright.
The Darker Face of the Earth is set on a plantation in antebellum South Carolina. At this
time in United States history, not only did men and women have very different roles in life, but
slaves and non-slaves had different roles as well. Women were only expected to be wives and
mothers. As the only child of Master Jennings, Amalia Jennings is in a unique position. She,
and her future husband, will inherit the plantation and its slaves after Master Jennings dies. After
Amalia’s mother dies in childbirth, Master Jennings is forced to raise Amalia by himself. As an
only child, without siblings to play with or a mother to guide her, Amalia’s proclivity is to turn to
the slave children as playmates. It is reluctantly agreed to by her father during childhood.
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However, after childhood, expectations for Amalia changed. She is suddenly expected to
become a genteel plantation owner’s daughter suitable for marriage to young man of similar
social status. Amalia rejects this idea. In a heated argument with Amalia, the doctor replies,
“Your daddy saw it coming; he was worried about you. How many times did he have to haul
you back from the fields, kicking and screaming like a she-cat?” (Dove 1685). Amalia countered
in her defense, “Daddy could run a plantation but he didn’t know the first thing about raising a
daughter. All morning long he’d teach me to calculate inventory, but he expected his slippers
darned come evening!” (Dove 1685). Amalia’s retort indicates that not only was she aware of
the role society thought she should play, but also her choice to renounce it.
Although Amalia eventually marries and becomes pregnant, her child is not her
husband’s child. She has continued her love affair with Hector despite her marriage to Louis. At
that time in history, it was customary for men to have such affairs, but almost unprecedented for
women to engage in these activities. Due to the circumstances of Amalia’s pregnancy, she is
forced to relinquish the right to raise her own child. After Amalia is denied the chance to be a
mother to her child, she becomes much more masculine. Even the slaves notice the change in
Amalia commenting that it “ain’t right, a woman running a plantation like that.” Scipio retorts,
“Woman? She’s more man than woman,” and Alexander interjects, “Ever since she lost that
child.” (Dove 1692). Although Amalia has lost a child, lost a lover, and is forced to continue her
marriage to Louis, she is determined that she will not let anyone control her ever again.
Other characters in Darker Face of the Earth conform to their expected gender roles with
the notable exception of Amalia’s husband, Louis. After the birth of her child, Louis becomes
asexual. He rejects her sexually. He refuses to help manage the plantation. He declines to
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participate in any activities. He passes time studying the stars, not contributing anything of value
to the plantation or society. Older slave women act as a mother figure or older sister to the
younger slave children, teaching them how to do their job appropriately while male slaves, with
the exception of Augustus, function as workers.
Male-female relationships are not the expected type of relationship. Amalia rejects the
role of wife; she is not allowed to accept the role of mother. Her marriage to Louis is a sham;
Louis’s one assertive act occurs when he refuses to let Amalia and her lover’s child stay with
them. Amalia seems to be in control of her relationship with Augustus. She decides when they
met and what they do. It is not entirely clear whether this is due to her demanding nature or due
to the master-slave relationship. Amalia has no female companionship on the plantation, and her
relationship with the female slaves, even the older ones, is clearly that of slave and master.
In conclusion, gender roles are a significant aspect of these two plays. Without the
characters failing to abide by their prescribed their societal assigned roles, these plays would
have very different themes and outcomes.
Michelle—my goodness! How can I possibly criticize (negatively) this sort of writing acumen?!
Your vocabulary is expansive and sophisticated, your logic clear and reasonable, and your use of
quotations is unique, intelligent, and appropriate. Brilliantly done! ;-) SMB (And no, I don’t
say things like that very much, and I’m not joking!)