Analysis of the Play: Triffles by Susan Glaspells

In the play, Triffles, by Susan Glaspells, the read can learn that the character of Mrs. Wright has no choice but to take action in a time of crisis. The crisis that Mrs. Wright faces is murder. Mrs. Wright had no choice but to take this action because of the death of her bird. The author uses Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters in the situation to protest gender inequality as it concerns the way the men treat women and dismiss trifling. Susan narrates the theme of betrayal, particularly, the way men abuse the concept of self-importance. Glaspells uses imagery and symbolism to express gender issues, to exemplify the themes of freedom and happiness, and to show predominant social constructs.

The main character kills her partner in her quest for happiness and freedom. Mrs. Wright explains to Sheriff and his wife, the County Attorney, neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Hale about the death of her husband. Immediately, they notice an unusual behavior from Mrs. Wright who informs them that her husband is dead. She claims that strangers strangled him while she was a sleep. Hall notes Why, what did he die of? He died of a rope around his neck (p.69). Men hurry upstairs to collect evidence and argue that there is no evidence that can substantiate their case. According to Mrs. Hale, Mrs. Wright kills her husband due to frustration and suffering she experienced in the house. However, she was not willing to disclose the information to men.

Susan exemplifies the ignorance of men as the main cause of gender discrimination. Instead of using the disarranged items as sources of evidence, men criticized the house keeping ability of Mrs. Wright and moved upstairs. For instance, Sherriff says Nothing here but kitchen things (p. 70). Furthermore, the County Attorney argues that I think Id rather have you go into that upstairs, where you can point it all out. However, women remained in the kitchen to investigate vital details relating to the death of Mr. Wright. Mrs. Hell and Mrs. Peters identified vital details that men did not care about. For instance, the house had bad fruit preserves, messy table, and empty bird cage. Consequently, the women conclude that Mrs. Wright experienced emotional distress and lived as a desperate housewife.

The author appears to deconstruct the prevailing social constructs concerning women, especially when the characters engage in the search for evidence. The County Attorney, Sherriff, and Mr. Hale went to the other rooms, as they did not perceive the importance of checking the cutlery and other items for evidence. On the contrary, Mrs. Hell and Mrs. Peter discovered a dead canary in the silk with the wrung neck, which is a symbol of a womans desire for happiness and freedom. However, they do not tell men about the trifle discovery. Instead, Mrs. Hale returns the bird in the courts pocket to conceal evidence. Notably, men do not appreciate the roles of women in the society and view them as less-significant people. The men present themselves as serious-minded detectives who are more observant than women. Consequently, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters decide to hide evidence to show their compassion to Mrs. Wright and to defend their rights as women. In defense of Mrs. Right, Mrs. Hales notes We think the cat got it (p.79).

To sum up, the Mrs. Wright performs the act of killing the husband because she has no choice. In particular, she commits murder to gain freedom and happiness. Second, the men ignore the evidence in the kitchen to show their seniority against women who they view as insignificant in the society. Lastly, Mrs. Hales and Mrs. Peters conceal the evidence in defense of Mrs. Wright because men view them as less-important individuals.