Johnna Lorenzano Research Paper Topic #1 “Remember that the biggest stories are not written about wars, or about politics, or even murders. The biggest stories are written about the things which draw human beings closer together.” This quote by Susan Glaspell appears in her 1912 short story, “Lifted Masks”. Though I feel very strongly that this quote may apply to many works, it seems especially relevant when studying Glaspell’s one act play, “Trifles”. The story, which portrays a group of characters attempting to uncover evidence in a homicide case, has been interpreted in many different ways. After reading the play, I carefully studied two different authors’ interpretations of Glaspell’s work. Though their arguments prove noteworthy and informative, I believe my personal interpretation of “Trifles” has much more meaning. The interpretation I provide stays true to Glaspell’s quote which argues that the biggest, and arguably the best, stories are written about things that draw human beings together. In addition, my personal take on the play introduces the audience to a new aspect that appeals to pathos. Although “Trifles” depicts the story of a domestic event during the early twentieth century, it can be argued that a deeper and more ancient meaning lies beneath its surface. In an article by Judith Kay Russell a strong connection is made between the women characters of Glaspell’s play and the Fates of Greek mythology. The Fates, according to ancient myths, are three white-­‐robed sisters who control the “thread of life” of all mortal beings (Graves, 48). The Fates consist of Clotho, the Spinner of Threads, Lachesis, the Disposer of Lots, and Atropos, the Cutter of the Johnna Lorenzano Research Paper Topic #1 Thread. In her article, the author argues that Mrs. Hale’s role in the play is much like that of Clotho’s in Greek mythology, while Mrs. Peters embodies Lachesis, and Mrs. Wright serves as Atropos (Russell). Russell begins her argument by quoting Mrs. Hale directly: “Well, I guess John Wright didn’t wake when they was slipping that rope under his neck”(Glaspell, 99). Most audiences would interpret Mrs. Hale’s improper subject-­‐verb agreement in her use of the word “they” as a simple dialect or mispronunciation. However, Russell insists that because Mrs. Hale uses the plural form, she is foreshadowing “the conspiracy of the three women and their efforts to control the outcome or the fate of all characters” (Russell). Russell continues to defend this argument through specific examples in which she manifests the idea that the three women in the play maintained control over the fates of John and Minnie Wright through each of their actions working together. In her article, Russell states that each female character in the story has a specific role that, with the help of the other characters, determines the fate of the Wrights. Russell defends her argument by comparing Mrs. Hale to Clotho, the Spinner of the Threads. She claims that, “the information concerning the domestic life of the Wrights is supplied, or spun, mainly by Mrs. Hale” (Russell). This she supports by explaining that Mrs. Hale is the one who describes Mr. Wright as a “hard man” while she describes Mrs. Wright as a “real sweet and pretty, but kind of timid” woman (Glaspell, 102). Just as she connects Mrs. Hale to Clotho, Russell connects Mrs. Peters to Lachesis. After Mrs. Peters lets down her guard as the Sherriff’s wife, Johnna Lorenzano Research Paper Topic #1 she begins to change her views on the law. When she consciously chooses to hide the dead bird, their only sign of substantial evidence against Mrs. Wright, Mrs. Peters, “claims her position as the sister who dispenses the lots in life” (Russell). Finally, Russell completes her analogy by explaining that Mrs. Wright personifies the last Fate, Atropos. Atropos, the Cutter of the Thread, is renown for being the smallest, but most terrible of all three Fates (Graves, 48). This may seem accurate in the fact that Mrs. Wright is, after all, the one who commits the greatest crime in the play. Russell further proves Mrs. Wright’s connection to Atropos by focusing on the symbolism of a pair of scissors as well as the rope used to kill Mr. Wright. When searching for Mrs. Wright’s scissors, Mrs. Hale discovers the dead canary. Russell argues that the mentioning of Mrs. Wright’s scissors is symbolic of the scissors Atropos uses to cut the “threads of life” of mortals. Likewise, Russell claims the rope is symbolic of the mortal’s thread of life in Greek mythology. Russell maintains this symbolism by asserting that Mrs. Wright’s, “involvement with the rope of death is the equivalent of severing the thread of life. She did not spin the thread, nor did she assign the lot; she merely contributed a part to the whole” (Russell). Through this elaborate analogy Russell manifests the idea that the major theme of this play is the collaboration of all three women in the play in order to finalize the fate of John and Minnie Wright. A very evident aspect of Glaspell’s play is the inequality between men and women. Many times throughout the play the male characters unfairly criticize the Johnna Lorenzano Research Paper Topic #1 females. In an article titled, “Silent Justice in a Different Key: Glaspell’s ‘Trifles’” author Suzy Clarkson Holstein draws attention to the negative attitude of the men in the play and how their actions directly affect the actions of the women. Her focus on this theme seems rooted in the fact that it commonly occurs in literature. Holstein supports this fact by claiming that whether or not “differences between men and
women are primarily based in biology (sex) or culture (gender), they remain evident in
current culture” (Holstein). Writing her article nearly a century after Glaspell wrote
“Trifles”, her argument seems to remain timeless. In the play the men have come to the Wright household strictly for business. The women, however, seem to be merely tagging along. The stage directions in the opening of the play indicate that Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters enter the house “slowly, and stand close together near the door” (Glaspell, 94). The men, paying little attention the women’s presence in the room, begin discussing the details of the crime. Holstein describes the men’s actions as a blatant disregard for the intelligence of the women. Holstein argues that the men treat the women, “much like servants and other discounted groups, [as] the women are
permitted access to knowledge because it is assumed they will not be able to make
intelligent use of it” (Holstein). As the play draws to an end it seems that Mrs. Hale and
Mrs. Peters purposefully withhold information by remaining silent. The men however,
think nothing of this silence due to their belief that “women are used to worrying over
trifles” and therefore they would not have anything significant to contribute to the
investigation (Glaspell, 97). Johnna Lorenzano Research Paper Topic #1 Holstein effectively conveys the impact of this injustice through the specific course of action taken by the women in the play. She manifests the idea that the women’s choice to remain silent about the evidence is largely based upon the unfair treatment all women in society receive from men, especially Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters. Holstein captures the women’s choice to remain silent about the dead bird as a way to stand up again the injustice they have experienced throughout life. She argues that, “Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters ultimately find power in being devalued, for their low status allows them to keep quiet at the play's end” (Holstein). The silence that occurs at the end of the play proves that the women’s “final refusal to speak rings with the power of intention and choice" because for once they, as women, are in control (Holstein). Holstein attempts to prove it is the women’s conscious decision and intent to remain silent in various instances within the play. For example, she argues that there is verbal irony in Mrs. Hale’s response to the County Attorney’s inquiry about the missing bird. When asked what happened to the bird, Mrs. Hale simply responds: “We think the cat got it” (Glaspell, 103). Holstein believes that Mrs. Hale’s answer is actually, “an oblique reference to the women's
silence, as in the old question ‘has the cat got your tongue?’” (Holstein). Meaning that Mrs. Hale purposefully withholds the information, while literally executing the familiar cliché. Ultimately, Holstein portrays the message that the women in this play did not simply remain quiet because that is what is expected of them as “inferiors”. On the contrary, she attempts to prove that the women in the play Johnna Lorenzano Research Paper Topic #1 remain silent in spite of the men who have suppressed them as well as Minnie Wright, in order to conceal crucial evidence. Although both Russell and Holstein present valid interpretations of the theme in Glaspell’s play, I offer a much different one. I believe the theme of the play is rooted in a woman’s ability to empathize and feel. Though men are capable of empathizing, it is safe to say that women are more typically associated with being in touch with their emotions, especially in regards to empathy. Furthermore, this statement is supported by the fact that, “some research suggests women’s brains are more likely to signal empathy than men’s brains” (Simon-­‐Thomas). As a result, the women are inclined, throughout the play, to defend Mrs. Wright, even after they realize she is guilty. In order to uphold my interpretation I will provide several examples from the text that support my claim that the overarching theme of Glaspell’s play is the role of empathy within the female community. I will aim to prove that this empathy was a crucial aspect of the play, as it caused the women to take a specific course of action, which ultimately determines the fate of Mrs. Wright. As the play begins, the cast trudges through the Wright household. When they reach the kitchen, the men in the group begin to criticize Minnie Wright’s ability to keep her house clean and tidy. After taking a look around the kitchen the County Attorney insensitively remarks, “Not much of a housekeeper, would you say, ladies?”(Glaspell, 97). This clearly strikes a nerve with Mrs. Hale who immediately comes to Mrs. Wright’s defense by claiming there is a great deal of work to do on a Johnna Lorenzano Research Paper Topic #1 farm. The way in which Mrs. Hale stands up for Minnie Wright very clearly illustrates her feelings of empathy and care. Likewise, Mrs. Peters shows a sort of empathy for Mrs. Wright after realizing her fruit preservatives have frozen. The men scoff at Mrs. Peters’ concern for the preservatives simply because they do not encompass the emotional ability to empathize with the situation. After reminiscing on the way Mrs. Wright used to be when she was Minnie Foster, Mrs. Hale feels a sort of responsibility and guilt. She claims that Mr. Wright had “killed” the joyful singing version of Minnie Foster, and replaced her with a cold and sad version of herself. Mrs. Hale beats herself up over not visiting enough, and empathizes with the sad Minnie whom she came to know. Finally, in her statement, “Men’s hands aren’t always as clean as they might be” (Glaspell, 97) I believe Mrs. Hale is referring to the fact that Mr. Wright played just as big a part in his death as Mrs. Wright did. Claiming that men’s hands aren’t always clean, I believe she is alluding to the fact that he also has blood on his hands; even if the blood is that of his own. By killing her bird, John Wright mentally abused his wife. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters recognize this abuse and feel sorry that Mrs. Wright had to endure it on her own. They empathize with her character and do not necessarily blame her for the crime she commits. In large part, the women are able to empathize with Mrs. Wright because they are able to relate the killing of Mrs. Wright’s bird to another significant event in their life. Specifically, Mrs. Peters recalls the anger and frustration she felt after a boy took a hatchet to her kitten when she was a girl. This further proves that the Johnna Lorenzano Research Paper Topic #1 empathy and emotion the women feel for Mrs. Wright enables them to disregard the law and withhold the evidence they uncover. All of the emotions the women feel cloud their judgment over what is “right and wrong” and cause them to focus on what is “fair and unfair.” Though all of these interpretations are different, they each hold a bit of truth to them. However, I firmly believe that my interpretation of the theme is represented more within the play. I believe that the entire play centers on the idea of gender differences. Because men are very straightforward thinkers, they do not have the ability to pay attention to the details of the crime. The women however, possess the ability to empathize with Mrs. Wright and therefore are able to put themselves in her shoes and uncover the truth behind the unsolved case. In getting to know the true identity of Mrs. Wright, the women recognize the extreme sadness and hurt she had experienced. As a result, they make the conscious decision to remain silent about the evidence they find. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peter’s choice to remain quiet about the dead bird does not stem from the fact that Mrs. Wright is a woman and therefore they want to defend her. On the contrary, their decision is based solely on their ability to empathize and relate with Mrs. Wright, especially through similar past experiences. This interpretation significantly impacts the way an audience would view “Trifles” because it calls for less attention on facts and actions in the play, and more attention on the emotions being evoked by the characters. Effective plays entice the audience by drawing them in to the story on a Johnna Lorenzano Research Paper Topic #1 more personal level. By directing one’s attention to the empathy and emotions displayed throughout the play, Glaspell’s use of pathos may captivate the audience. It seems to me that this interpretation focused on emotion supports Glaspell’s aforementioned quote because it emphasizes empathy and a feeling of closeness between different people Johnna Lorenzano Research Paper Topic #1 Works Cited Glaspell, S. “Trifles”. Gardner, Janet E. Writing about Literature: A Portable Guide. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2009. Print. Graves, Robert. The Greek myths. 1895-­‐1985. .Pgs 48-­‐49. Retrieved from: http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.bsu.edu Holstein, S. (2003). Silent Justice in a Different Key: Glaspell's 'Trifles.'. Midwest Quarterly, 44(3), 282. Russell, J. K. “Susan Glaspell’s Trifles” Explicator; Winter97, Vol. 55 Issue 2, p88, 3p Retrieved from: http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.bsu.edu Simon-­‐Thomas, Emiliana R., PhD. "Are Women More Empathic than Men?" Greater Good. University of California, Berkeley, Summer 2009. Web. 05 Dec. 2012.